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LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF 
MASSACHUSETTS 

AMHERST,  MASS. 


FIRST  CHURCH 


MIDDLEBOROUGH,   MASS 


MR,  PUTNAM'S  CENTURY  AND  HALF  DISCOURSES 


%\\  listorid  %m\mi 


AND  A 


CATALOGUE   OF   MEMBERS 


PUBLISHED    BY    THE    CHURCH, 


BOSTON: 
C.  C.  P.  MOODY,  PRINTER,  52  WASHINGTON  STREET, 

1854. 


82325 

E 11 K  A  T  A 


LINES    FROM    TOP. 

P.  5,  1.  7  for  Howlad  read  Ilowland. 

P.  G,  1.  G  for  1st  r.  6tli. 

P.  36,  1.  5  for  Nov.  2  r.  Nov.  1. 

1.  10  and  23  for  Mary  r.  Mercy. 
P.  37,  1.  15  after  Soule,  add,  and  child. 

1.  IG  for  Hannah  Love  r.  wid.  Hannah  Cox. 
P.  42,  1.  8  for  Blanford  r.  Branford. 

1.  13  for  5  r.  25  ;  p.  44,  1.  9  for  12  r.  15. 
P.  45, 1.  10  for  Tinkham  r.  Raymond. 

1.  17,  add,  Henry  Thomas  and  Joseph  Tinkham. 
P.  50, 1.  13,  for  holy  and  without  sin  r.  perfectly  holv. 
P.  53, 1.  1  for  Finney  r.  Tinkham. 
P.  54,  Is.  2,  3  omit  all  after  deacon.- 

Is,  4,  5  after  Cobb  omit  the  two  lines. 
P.  61,  1,  1  after  and  r.  was  ;  for  was  r.  had  a. 
P.  68,  for  25  r.  12. 
P.  74,  Cobb,  for  418,  425  r.  518,  525. 

LINES    FROM    BOTTOM. 

P.  3,  line  9,  for  easterly  read  westerly. 

P.  5,1.  13,  for  1690  r.  1698. 

P.  34,  1.  1,  for  24  r.  19^,  p.  35, 1.  9,  for  70  r.  78 ih. 

P.  36,  1.  7,  for  Shore,  &c.,  r.  Stone  of  Southboro'. 

P.  37, 1.  6,  r.  so  sleep  the  saints  and  cease,  &;c. 

P.  38,  1.  18,  for  grade  r.  glade. 

P.  43,  1.  5,  for  July  r.  June. 

P.  45,  1.  1,  for  fifty  r.  sixty. 

P.  49,  1.  11,  after  on  r.  having. 

P.  51, 1.  7,  r.  a  sentence  of  just. 

P.  53, 1.  5,  for  25,  1849,  r.  12,  1847. 

P.  54,  1.  13,  for  Rutland  r,  Royalton. 

P.  60, 1.  1,  after  a,  add,  sound. 

P.  64, 1.  13,  for  Abigail  r.  Abijah. 

P.  70,  1.  16,  for  There  r.  These. 

Desc.  Cat.  No.  172,  r.  d.  Jy.  30. 

No.  480,  admitted  1750,  not  1751, 

No.  640,  was  dismissed,  when  ordained. 

No.  948,  is  still  a  member  here. 


PREFACE. 


Tlie  C'!uu-c!i  took  sonic  action  in  the  ye;;r  1838,  on  the  sul)j(.'Ct  of  ;i 
reprint  of  t!ie  catalogue  of  its  members  from  the  beginning,  in  connection 
with  such  historical  matter  as  miglit  be  deemed  useful  and  of  general 
interest.  A  committee  of  three  v,-us  then  chosen  for  this  business,  and 
was  increased  in  18-il  by  the  addition  of  three  other  brethren.  Little 
Y/as  done,  however,  for  several  years. 

In  184i3  the  pastor  favored  his  people  with  two  discourses  on  "  Tlie 
Faithfulness  of  God  to  this  Church,"  during  the  one  hundred  and  fifty 
years  of  its  existence,  whicli  period  closed  with  th.e  Sabbath  on  which 
the  discourses  were  preached. 

The  ir.terest  on  this  subject  was  revived,  and  the  church  soon  after 
"\oted  that  these  Century  and  Half  Discourses  should  be  printed  with  the 
contemplated  catalogue  and  history. 

One  of  the  original  members  having  died,  the  vacancy  was  fdled  in 
1846,  and  still  another  brother  added  in  1847.  But  time  passed  on 
without  the  matter  being  taken  up  in  earnest  till  1851,  when  only  three 
of  the  eight,  who  had  been  chosen  for  this  work,  remained  here  to 
accomplish  it. 

The  historical  part  was  put  to  press  early  in  1852,  and  the  discourses 
soon  followed ; — but  on  account  of  the  incompleteness  of  records,  and 
the  labor  of  getting  the  necessary  information  from  other  sources,  the 
Descriptive  Catalogue  could  not  be  prepared  at  that  time. 

lluch  effort  has  since  been  made  to  gather  facts,  to  procure  as  full  an 
account  of  each  member  as  is  attainable  at  this  distance  of  time.  This 
delay,  however,  has  brought  to  light  new  facts,  making  necessary  the 
addition  of  Notes  and  a  more  extended  Errata. 

The  committee  in  concluding  a  work,  which,  on  account  of  the  peculiar 
difficulties  attending  it,  has  been  long  protracted,  cherish  the  hope  that 
what  they  have  imperfectly  done  may  lead  the  living  members  of  the 
church  to  ponder  well  on  the  various  relations  they  sustain  to  those  who 
have  died  in  the  Lord,  to  one  another,  and  to  all  wdio,  by  their  prayers 
and  efforts,  may  yet  be  brought  into  spiritual  communion  with  them- 
selves on  earth  and  in  heaven. 

To  the  favor  of  God  we  now  commend  the  result  of  our  labors,  pray- 
ing that  His  blessing  may  m.ake  it  useful  to  the  present  and  future 
generations  of  this  church  and  this  people. 

MiDDLEBORorori,  ./i/,/3/,  1854. 


CON  T  E  N  T  S 


Abbrcviatiwis,  table  of,        .        .         • 

Admissions  under  each  pastor  27,  in 
old  age  62,  table  of  annual  and  by 
pastorates,  Disc.*  55,  candidates 
for,        ,,.... 

Anecdotes  of  Mr.  Talnicr  8,  28  ;  Don. 
Thomas, 

Articles  of  Faith,  original  15,  revised 
49,  remarks  on,     .         .         .         . 

Backas,  Kev.  Isaac  05,  70,  and  notes  at 

Baptist  Societies  70,  othersj 

Catalogues,  of  this  church  81 — 1 15,cx- 
planation  of,  79,  of  C.  C.  Church, 
68,  addenda,  .         .         .         . 

Cemetaries,  Hill,  33,  Green, 

Charities,     ...... 

Chronological  Notices,  Disc. 

Confession,  mutual,     .        .        .        . 

Covenant,  original,  18,  renewal  of,  19, 
present,  or  revised,  48,  halfway, 
79,  and  members  of,     . 

Church,  first  organizations,  13,  14, 
Halifax,  64,  West  Precinct,  63, 
Titicut,  65,  North  Rochester,  66, 
Four  Corners,  68;  notice  of  some 
members  55,  additions  by  revivals 
26,  10,  it  is  a  legal  body,  11,  order 
of  and  rights,  28,  51,  during  divine 
service,         

Deacons,  table  of,  117,  52,  induction 
of,  31,  

Deaths,  additional,  of  members,  121, 
by  small  pox,       .        .        .        . 

Events,  list  of.  Disc. 

Epitaphs,  33,  35,  37-8,  72, 

Fund,  Parish, 

Green,  upper,  44,  lower, 

Indian  missions,  &c.,  3,  4, 

Law-suits,  Palmer  vs.  Parish,  7,  Par- 
ish vs.  Parish,  9,  Weld  vs.  Parish, 


80 


30 

61 

47 

end. 

71 


118 
45 
30 
54 
24 


118 


121 

117 

37 
54 

124 
71 
46 

123 

40 


Letters  by  Mr.  Thachcr,  23,  121,  Mr. 
BosiYorth, 

Meeting  Houses,  5,  41,  44  :  sales  of,  5, 
41,  present  72,  Disc.     . 

Member's  church,  males  in  1744,39; 
total  in  1744,  123;  under  each 
pastor  27,  and  Disc.  55  ;  on  remov- 
ing to  take  letters  31,  who  became 
pastors,  54 ;  notice  of  some,  55. 
Luke  Short,  59,  voters  who,  12, 
resident  brethren  in  1854,  116; 
non-residents,       .        .        .        . 

Ministers,  members  who  became,  54, 
others  who  became,  124,  who 
preached  as  candidates,  8,  41, 

Monody,  by  Kev.  S.  Conant, 

Parishes,  West,  63,  North,  05,  Halifax 
64,  North  Rochester,  66,  Four 
Corners,  68,  Baptists,  70,  Metho- 
dists,    .,..-• 

Pastors,  notices  of.  Fuller,  32 ;  4,  5,  6  : 
Palmer,  34 ;  6,  7,  8 :  Thacher,  35, 
7,  8,  123  :  Conant,  36  ;  5,  8,  9,  10, 
123:  Weld,  39,  5,  9,  124:  Barker, 
41 :  Paine,43 :  Eaton,44 :  Putnam, 
44:  table  of,  117,  imposition  of 
hands,  31,  also  members, 

Proprietors,  twenty-six  men,  4,  origi- 
nal, 12  3;  Hill  Cemetary,  33; 
Green  Cemetary,  45;  Meeting 
house  lot, 

Records,  Lost,     ..... 

Revivals,  26,  10,  Disc.  29,  37,  40, 

Sacrament  of  the  Supper,  30,  table 
furniture, 

Singing, 

Towns  incorporated,  Middleboro'.  03, 
Halifax,  04,  Carver,      . 


13 


34 


116 


42 

38 


32 


44 

124 

41 

72 

27 

88 


*  Note.— Dwe.  refers  to  the  Discourses  which  are  pnged   indepoud«ntly.ij  An  account   of  tho 
first  org-inizatinD,  tho  suiressirc  pastors.  lerivals.  &c  .  will  also  he  found  in  them, 


HISTORICAL  NOTICE. 


"Considerable  exertions  were  made  by  some  of  the 
early  settlers  to  Christianize  the  natives.  In  Middlebor- 
oiigh  and  many  other  places,  these  efforts  were  atten- 
ded with  a  good  degree  of  success.  At  the  commence- 
ment of  the  Indian  war,  in  1675,  there  were  three 
churches  in  this  town,  one  at  Namasket,  one  at  Titicut, 
and  one  at  'Sowampset,  the  last  of  which,  contained  35 
members ;  all  of  them,  90  members."  (S.  Eddy's  Com. 
PL  Book  of  Hist.  Reading.) 

"In  the  year  1685,  Governor  Hinkley,  of  Plymouth, 
sent  to  the  corporation  in  England,  an  account  of  the 
praying  Indians  of  that  colony;  they  amounted  to  1439, 
besides  boys  and  girls,  which  were  supposed  to  be  three 
times  that  number;  at  Namasket  and  Titicut  70,  at 
Namatakeeset  40."     (Hutch.  His.  Mass.,  vol.  1,  p.  313.) 

Namasket  was  a  mile  from  the  present  meeting-house 
of  the  first  precinct,  south-easterly,  an  Indian  village  of 
that  name  on  a  river  of  the  same  name ;  Titicut  was  an 
Indian  village  six  miles  westerly,  on  the  Cohannet,  or 
Taunton  river,  and  Namatakeeset  is  supposed  to  be  the 
same  as  'Sowampset,  a  village  upon  the  Great  Pond  in 
the  south  part  of  the  town,  and  probably  this  was  the 
name  of  the  "Long  Pond,"  although  the  Indian  name  of 
that  pond  is  not  certainly  known.  There  is  no  subse- 
quent account  of  these  churches.     No  doubt,  the  "Nam- 


aschiicks,"  worshipped  with  the  first  settlers,  and  before 
the  oro-anization  of  our  church  in  1694,  had  become 
extinct  or  had  migrated. 

That  part  of  Middleborough,  which  is  now  the  first 
precinct,  was  purchased  of  the  Indian  sachem,  Wampa- 
tuck,  in  March  1662,  by  "  twenty-six  men,"  and  con- 
firmed by  the  government  of  the  Plymouth  colony, 
January,  1663,  with  some  other  purchases  made  of  the 
"  Black  Sachem,"  Tispaquin,  sachem  of  Namasket.  The 
town  was  incorporated  by  its  present  boundaries,  July 
1st,  1669,  and  afterwards  fully  confirmed  by  the  court 
at  Plymouth.  From  1669  to  1675  the  town  sent  depu- 
ties to  the  court.  But  in  1675  the  Indian  war  broke 
up  the  settlement,  and  the  purchasers  returned  to  Plym- 
outh. In  1679  they  returned  to  Middleborough  with 
their  minister.  Rev.  Samuel  Fuller,  and  made  a  perma- 
nent settlement.  In  their  re-organization  they  mention 
the  loss  of  their  records,  when  their  houses  were  burnt 
by  the  Indians. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  "  twenty-six  pur- 
chasers "  who  were  here  when  the  war  broke  out,  and 
who  probably  returned  after  the  war.  Their  minister 
was  with  them  in  1675 ;  and  as  he  was  one  of  the  origi- 
nal purchasers,  he  was  probably  with  them  in  their  first 
settlement  in  1669,  as  otherwise  they  would  not  proba- 
bly have  been  allowed  to  remove  from  Plymouth.  The 
town  is  about  14  miles  on  its  South  line,  about  the  same 
distance  from  that  line  to  its  north, — contains  more  than 
100  square  miles,  and  is,  in  extent  of  territory,  the 
largest  town  in  the  Commonwealth. 

JOHN  THOMPSON,  MOSES  SIMMONS. 

ISAAC  ROWLAND,  SAMUEL  BARROWS, 

FRANCIS  COOMBS,  SAMUEL  EATON, 

SAMUEL  FULLER,  FRANCIS  BILLINGTON. 

JOHN  MORTON,  GEORGE  SOULE, 


NATHANIEL  SOUTHWORTH,      SAMUEL  EDDY, 

-EPHRAIM  TINKHAM,  SAMUEL  PRATT, 

HENRY  WOOD,  GEORGE  VAUGHAN, 

WILLIAM  NELSON,  JOHN  SHAW, 

DAVID  THOMAS,  JACOB  THOMPSON. 

JOHN  COBB,  FR.\NCIS  MILLER, 

JABEZ  WARREN,  JOHN  HOWLAD, 

EDWARD  BUMP,  JOHN  ALDEN. 

In  1680,  the  town  provided  a  house  lot,  and  twelve 
acres  of  land  for  Mr.  Fuller,  and  it  seems  he  then  lived 
in  a  house  upon  it,  which  they  call  his.  His  salary  was 
"  £20,  to  be  paid  one  quarter  in  silver  and  the  rest  in 
produce,  corn  at  two  shillings,  and  wheat  at  four  per 
bushel."  The  tradition  is,  that  he  lived  in  a  house  a 
little  east  of  Dr.  Sturtevant's.  The  town'agreed  "  to  turn 
out  and  fence  his  field,  and  every  one  that  did  not,  was 
to  pay  a  bushel  of  corn."  The  first  meeting-house  was 
between  his  house  and  '•  the  Green,"  and  in  August, 
1701,  was  sold  at  auction  for  £5  2s.,  the  town  having, 
the  year  before,  built  a  meeting-house  on  the  "  Lower 
Green,"  nearly  opposite  the  present  school-house,"  thirty- 
six  feet  by  thirty,  and  sixteen  stud,"  as  by  vote  of 
November,  1690.  It  had  two  ridge  poles  and  four  gable 
ends.  In  1745  the  roof  was  taken  off,  and  a  "  pitched 
roof"  put  on.  The  meeting-house  on  the  "  Upper 
Green,"  was  built  the  same  year ;  the  parish  having 
separated  into  two  meetings  ;  one  held  by  the  "  old  lights," 
or  "  standing  party,"  and  the  other  by  the  "  new  lights," 
or  "  revival  men."  Of  the  "  old  lights,"  Rev.  Thomas 
Weld,  was  pastor  ;  of  the  "  new  lights,"  Rev.  Sylvanus 
Conant.  The  "old  lights"  broke  up  in  the  year  1754 
or  1755,  and  soon  after  the  old  house  was  sold,  and  of 
the  materials  a  dwelling-house  was  built  where  tlie  pas. 
torage  house  now  stands.  The  parish  were  again  united 
and  Mr.  Conant  was  the  acknowledged  pastor  of  both 


"  old  lights"  and  "  new  lights."  The  site  of  the  old  house 
is  now  plainly  to  be  seen  just  below  the  school-house. 
The  house  on  the  Upper  Green  was  built  by  proprietors, 
and  was  sold  in  1828,  and  the  materials  removed,  but 
not  until  the  dedication  of  the  present  meeting-house, 
January  1st,  1829. 

The  church  was  organized,  and  Mr.  Fuller  ordained 
pastor,  Dec.  26th,  1694.     On  Mr.  Fuller's  death,  August 
17, 1695,  Mr.  Cushman,  afterwards  minister  of  Plympton, 
Mr.  Clap  and  Mr.  Cutting  were  successivly  invited  to 
supply  the  pulpit.    In  August,  1696,  Mr.  Thomas  Palmer 
was  applied  to,   and  engaged  to  preach  a  quarter  of  a 
year,  for  which  he  was  paid  £13.     In  October,  the  town 
voted  him  £35  for  a  salary."     In  November,  1698,  the 
town  voted  "  that  his  goods  shall  be  brought  from  Plym- 
outh at  the  town's  charge,"  and  he  was  probably  ordained, 
May  2nd,  1702,  (though  possibly  a  year  or  two  sooner,) 
not  without  strenuous  opposition   on  the  part  of  a  num- 
ber of  the  members  of  the  church.      Committees   were 
soon  chosen  by  the  town  and  by  the  church  "  to  devise 
means  of  a  regular,   comfortable,  and  peaceable  settle- 
ment."    lie  was  charged  with  misbehavior  in  the  church 
and  with  intemperance.     The  first  council  was  convened 
by  the  church  exparte,  and  it  condemned  him ;  the  sec- 
ond, called  by  the  town  and  the  church,  advised  that, 
"as  the  town  earnestly  desired,  both  old  and  young  to 
enjoy  his  ministry,  he  should  continue  his  ministry  until 
the  council  should  meet  more  fully ;"  and  finally,  twelve 
churches  were  convened,  and   advised   the    church   to 
depose  him.     In  1705,  his  salary  was  £40.     In  1706,  the 
same,  "  provided  he  continue  in  the  work  of  the  minis- 
try the  whole  year  ;  if  removed,  to  pay  him   proportion- 
ally."    In  November  1706.  they  voted  ''to  seek  out  a 


man  for  the  supply  of  the  ministry."  The  records  of  the 
church  are  not  extant,  but  the  town  voted,  June  od 
1707,  to  provide  for  the  ministers  and  messengers  that 
are  to  sit  in  council."  December  12th,  1707,  the  select- 
men were  authorized  to  agree  with  Mr.  Peter  Thacher  for 
the  work  of  the  ministry  for  a  quarter  of  a  year.  It 
would  seem  that  Mr.  Palmer  had  then  stopped  preach- 
ing, and  that  the  council  then  advised  his  deposition. 
But  the  records  of  the  church  give  the  proceedings  of 
the  council  precisely  one  year  later.  Mr.  Thacher  was 
ordained,  November  2d,  1709,  and  his  ministry  contin- 
ued from  this  time  until  his  death,  in  1744.  Mr.  Palmer 
lived  on  the  "  Mory  Place,"  which  he  owned,  and  prac- 
ticed physic,  in  town,  until  his  death  in  1743. 

It  appears  from  the  records,  that  although  he  did  not 
preach  through  the  year  1706,  yet  that  he  sued  the  parish 
for  his  salary,  and  recovered  judgment  for  it  up  to  the 
time  when  the  council  advised  his  dismission,  to  the 
amoimt  of  £52,  but  on  settlement  with  the  parish,  con- 
sented to  release  £15  of  the  judgment.  "Mr.  Palmer 
preached  a  considerable  time  (after  being  rejected  by 
the  church,)  in  his  own  house,  where  he  had  a  few  hear- 
ers."    [Mr.  Baker's  century  sermon.] 

Extracts  from  the  Church  Records,  June  2d,  1707  (1708?J 
"  Voted,  by  the  church  of  Middleborough,  that,  in  pursuance  of  the 
advice  of  twelve  churches,  in  council  here  convened,  which  have  de- 
clared that  Mr.  Thomas  Palmer,  the  former  minister  and  pastor,  ought 
to  be  removed  from  the  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry,  and  suspended 
from  communion  at  the  Lord's  table  for  his  scandalous  immoralities, — 
therefore,  in  conformity  to  said  advice  of  said  council,  as  also  upon  the 
advice  of  a  convention  of  reverend  ministers  at  Boston,  the  church  doth 
now  declare  that  they  now  look  on  Mr.  Thomas  Palmer  as  no  longer 
their  pastor,  but  as  deposed  from  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  also 
suspended  from  the  table  of  the  Lord  ;  and  we  withdraw  from  the  said 


8 


Mr.  Palmer,  and  unite  in  our  endeavors  to  settle  the  ordinances  of  the 
Gospel  among  us." 

"November  13th,  1737.  This  day  Mr.  Thomas  Palmer,  the 
former  pastor  of  this  church,  had  the  censure  of  the  church  taken  off, 
and  was  restored  to  communion  by  unanimous  vote  of  the  church,  after 
hearing  his  confession."* 

After  the  decease  of  Rev  Mr.  Thacher,  the  church  again 
had  "  troublous  times."  The  great  revival  had  brought 
large  numbers  into  the  church.  The  resident  male 
members  were  considerably  above  one  hundred,  and  they 
desired  to  settle  a  minister  who  favored  the  revival.  A 
respectable  portion  of  the  people,  and  deacon  Barrows? 
with  sixteen  or  seventeen  male  members  of  the  church? 
wished  to  settle  a  different  man.  The  church  at  first 
called  the  old  pastor's  son,  Peter  Thacher,  but  for  reas- 
ons unknown,  (said  to  be  in  order  not  to  break  with 
the  minority,)  they  withdrew  the  call,  and  sent  for  Mr. 
Conant.  He  came  in  September,  1744,  but  the  parish 
also  sent  for  a  candidate,  and  one  preached  in  the  fore- 
noon and  the  other  in  the  afternoon ;  after  which  the 
parish  refused  to  permit  Mr.  Conant  to  preach  in  the 
meeting-house,  and  he  preached  in  the  Mansion  house, 
by  invitation  of  Madame  Thacher,  for  several  months 
Although  he  was  called  in  October,  he  was  not  ordained 
until  March,  and  this  took  place  in  the  yard  or  court  in 
front  of  Madame  Thacher's  house.      His  friends  then 

*  An  aged  lady  gives  the  following  anecdote  as  illustrative  of  the  character 
of  the  deposed  pastor  : — '•'  Mr.  Palmer,  after  his  deposition,  practiced  physic,  but  kept 
no  horse.  His  distant  patients  had  to  furnish  him  ;  and  when,  one  day,  he  returned 
from  the  west  precinct,  on  his  patient's  horse,  (that  he  might  not  be  impounded  on 
his  way  back)  he  tied  up  the  bridle  with   these  lines  attached  to  it : — 

Don't  take  me  up,  but  let  me  pass 

For  I'm  my  master's  faithful  ass  ; 

He  Doctor  Palmer  lent  me, 

Who  rode  me  to  his  house, 

And  gave  me  a  pottle  of  oats, 

And  home  again  he  sent  me." 


went  resolutely  at  work  in  building  a  meeting-liouse  on 
the  ''Upper  Green."  It  was  raised  July  17th,  1745,  and 
was  soon  put  into  a  condition  to  accommodate  the  meet- 
ings. In  the  meantime  the  parish  had  called  a  Mr.  Weld 
to  be  their  minister,  and  he  was  ordained  in  the  old 
meeting-house,  October  2d,  of  the  same  year.  The 
church  by  their  committee,  Ezra  Clap,  Edmund  Weston, 
and  Samuel  Eddy,  sent  into  the  council  a  strenuous  pro- 
test against  the  proceeding.  The  parish  and  church  had 
now  a  "  hard  business."  A  new  meeting-house  to  build, 
the  old  meeting  house  to  repair,  and  two  ministers  and 
two  churches  to  sustain,  and  more  than  all,  "  crimina- 
tions and  recriminations,"  and  alienations  among  breth- 
ren —  "  old  lights,  and  new  lights"  —  "  the  church  and 
the  standing  party."  We  have  two  printed  pamphlets 
in  which  hard  names  and  words  are  dealt  freely  against 
each  other.  A  tax  made  by  the  parish  against  the 
new  society,  as  well  as  the  old,  well  nigh  brought  on 
open  war,  and  add  to  these,  a  lawsuit  about  the  records 
and  the  furniture  of  the  Lord's  table.  This  was  finally 
adjusted,  and  the  church  chose  Ebenezer  Clap,  Seth 
Tinkham,  and  Samuel  Eddy  to  present  a  petition  to 
^e  General  Court  for  relief.  This  was  April  22d,  1746. 
It  seems  they  succeeded  in  getting  a  law  passed,  by 
which  those  who  chose  to  worship  in  the  new  meeting 
house  might  file  their  names  with  the  clerk  of  the 
old  society,  and  so  become  members  of  the  new ;  and 
more  than  two  hundred  names  were  filed  in  1748.  In 
1754,  another  law  was  passed,  by  which  both  societies 
were  again  united  under  their  former  name,  and  that 
union  has  continued  to  the  present  time. 

The  reputation  of  Mr.  Conant,  the  pastor,  has  been 
very  good.     He  was  distinguished  for  his  urbanity  and 
2 


10 


concilatory  manners,  and  succeeded  in  a  few  years,  in 
uniting  the  people  in  his  favor.  He  was  a  lively,  anima- 
ted preacher,  and  seems  to  have  done  all  that  any  man 
could  do  in  such  times  —  times  of  war,  French  and  revo- 
lutionary, stamp  act,  tea  tax,  Boston  massacre,  —  every- 
thing to  agitate  the  public  mind.  He  was  requested  to 
accept  the  chaplaincy  of  a  regiment,  and  the  patriotism^ 
not  the  will  of  his  people,  consented.  He  three  times 
married,  but  left  no  children.  It  may  well  be  asked 
what  would  have  been  the  condition  of  our  churches 
after  the  war,  if  they  had  not  been  prepared,  by  the 
great  reformation,  to  meet  the  shock  ?  The  "  sacra- 
mental host"  were  not  all  wasted  by  these  wars  and 
trials.  Their  venerable  countenances  and  gray  hairs  are 
still  remembered  by  some  of  us  now  living. 

Our  church  has  since  seen  days  of  affliction ;  but  we 
cannot  say  with  the  patriarch,  "  few  and  evil  have  been 
our  days."  It  is  almost  two  centuries  since  the  "  seed 
of  the  kingdom"  began  to  be  sown  here,  and  more  than 
a  century  and  a  half  since  the  visible  kingdom  was  first 
established  here  —  "a  church  built  on  a  rock,"  as  we 
trust.  The  "  glorious  things  spoken"  of  this  kingdom, 
have  been  many  times  seen  here.  The  records  of  1728 
and  1741-42,  in  what  may  be  called  ancient  times,  and 
those  of  1808  and  1823,  in  our  own  time,  are  not  soon 
to  be  forgotten ;  nor  are  we  to  forget  the  other  showers 
of  divine  grace  in  1818,  and  in  our  present  pastor's  time. 
"  Weeping  may  endure  for  a  night,  but  joy  cometh  in 
the  morning."  "  The  days  of  darkness  are  many,"  and  in 
them  we  are  to  be  humble  and  prayerful ;  the  days  of  light 
to  the  church  are  not  a  few,  and  we  may  well  "  rejoice 
and  be  glad  in  them,"  and  remember  them  with  cheerful- 
ness.    If  we  are  wise,  wc  shall  rise  by  repentance  from 


11 


our  baitings  and  backslidings,  and  get  improvment  and 
strength  to  "  run  the  race  set  before  us,"  with  a  more 
perfect  heart,  setting  up  our  memorials  as  we  advance, 
and  girding  up  the  loins  of  our  minds  to  run  with  pa- 
tience the  race  which  is  yet  before  us.  This  church  was 
very  dear  to  the  hearts  of  our  brethren  who  have  left 
us,  and  may  it  still  be  dear  to  us  in  all  its  interests ; 
may  the  worship  and  the  ordinances  here  be  maintained 
"as  long  as  as  the  sun  and  the  moon  shall  endure." 
«:  Forgetting  the  things  which  are  behind,"  may  we  "  press 
forward  to  those  things  which  are  before"  us,  till  we 
shall  "  attain  to  the  measure  of  the  stature  of  perfect  men 
in  Christ  Jesus." 


THE  CHURCH  IS  A  LEGAL  BODY. 

This  church  considers  that  it  is  under  the  protection  of 
the  law,  in  its  proper  action  and  its  religous  worship  ;  and 
not  only  so,  but  that  it  has  legal  rights,  and  that  it  is  de- 
sirable that  the  members  should  know  what  its  legal 
rights  are. 

L  "  The  people  of  God  have  a  legal  right  to  gather 
themselves  into  church  state."     Ancient  Charters  100. 

II.  They  have  free  election  of  all  their  officers.  Id. 
101.  "  The  churches  shall  be  allowed  to  exercise  and 
enjoy  all  their  accustomed  privileges,  and  those  respect- 
ing church  order,  divine  worship  and  discipline,  and  are 
to  be  encouraged  therein.  Id.  245.  Const.  20.  Eev. 
Statutes  201. 

HI.  "  Those  who  disturb  them  in  their  worship  are 
guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  punishable  by  fine  and  im- 
prisonment." Anc.  Ch.  104.  Rev.  Statutes.  741.  So 
also  disturbances  in  their  church  action — their  elections, 
Anc.  Charters  104. 


12 


IV.  "Every  church  has  free  liberty  of  administration, 
recommendation,  dismission,  expulsion,  and  disposal  of 
their  officers  and  members,  with  free  exercise  of  the  dis- 
cipline and  censurers  of  Christ,  according  to  the  rules 
of  His  tvord.     Anc.  Charters,  101. 

V.  "  By  the  church,  is  meant  those  who  are  in  full 
communion."     Id.  114. 

Under  this  law,  every  member  of  a  church,  in  full 
communion,  old  or  young,  male  or  female,  has  the  right 
of  voting  in  the  church.  But  John  Robinson,  our  eccle- 
siastical father,  says  the  churches  do  not  admit  the  sisters 
to  take  a  part  in  the  husiness  matters  of  the  church,  as  it 
is  against  the  spirit  of  the  directions  of  St.  Paul  in  re- 
spect to  them.  But  undoubtedly  if  a  male  of  any  age 
be  admitted  to  full  communion,  he  should  be  allowed  to 
vote.  Rev.  Mr.  Camp  was  a  candidate  here,  after  the 
decease  of  Mr.  Conant,  and  a  majority  of  the  church 
voted  for  him.  He  insisted  upon  the  sisters  being  called 
out  and  voting,  and  many  of  them  did  so,  much  to  the 
offence  of  some  of  the  brethren.  He  did  not  accept  the 
call.  They  have  been  called  once  only  since,  but  more 
than  half  refused,  and  no  good  came  of  the  measure. 
It  is  to  be  hoped  that  we  shall  not  again  act  against  the 
advice  of  "  the  author  of  Congregationalism." 

The  church,  by  their  deacons,  are  a  body  politic,  and 
may  even  bring  actions.  See  Revised  Statutes  202- 
"  The  deacons  of  the  churches  are  a  body  corporate, 
authorized  to  hold  the  property  of  the  church,  to  re- 
ceive all  donations  of  land  and  personal  estate,  and  to 
sue  and  defend  in  every  case  relating  to  such  property." 
Anc.  Charters  206.  "  The  deacons  are  corporate  bodies, 
for  the  purpose  of  taking  and  holding  in  succession,  all 
grants  and  donations,  whether  of  real  or  personal  estate 


13 

made  to  them   and  successors,  or  to  the  poor  of  the 
churches."     Id.  205. 

"  The  churches  may  call  the  deacons  to  account,  and 
sue  them.''     Id.  206. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  CHURCH,  1694,  [O.S.] 
The  church  records  from  the  organization  to  the 
coming  of  the  Rev.  Peter  Thacher,  in  1708,  are  not 
known  to  be  in  existence,  and  are  supposed  to  have 
been  early  lost  to  the  church.  Mr.  Noah  Bosworth,  of 
Halifax,  Mass.,  a  descendent  of  the  first  pastor,  in  the 
sixth  generation,  providentially  reading  our  present 
Articles  of  Faith  and  list  of  members  printed  in  1826, 
inferred  that  this  church  had  no  record  of  its  first  organi- 
zation. With  a  commendable  thought  and  generosity  he 
presented  to  this  church  an  ancient  copy  made  from  the 
lost  records.  His  letter  *  enclosing  it,  shows  that  great 
reliance  may  be  placed  upon  it,  as  a  true  copy  by 
Ebenezer  Fuller,  who  commenced  it  with  the  following 
date  and  remark : 

"  MiddleborougJi,  March  8,  1734.  —  A  copy  of  the  record  of  the 
First  Church  of  Christ  in  Middleborough,  which  was  written  by 
Mr.  Samuel  Fuller,  first  pastor  of  that  church." 

*  *'  Looking  over  the  records  of  the  First  Church  in  Middleborough,  made  out  and 
printed  for  the  information  of  its  members  into  the  history  of  said  church,  I  noticed 
that  there  was  no  account  of  the  formation  of  said  church,  or  of  the  names  of  the  first 
members  of  it ;  and,  having  among  the  writings  of  my  great  grandfather,  Ebenezer 
Fuller,  a  copy  of  the  record  of  the  first  formation  of  said  church  and  the  Covenant  they  i 

entered  into,  and  the  Articles  of  Faith,  &c. ;  and  thinking,  if  that  record  was  lost  it  f\^ 
would  be  gratifying  to  the  present  pastor  and  church  to  have  so  ancient  a  copy  of  said 
record,  transcribed  March  8,  1734,  by  one,  with  his  own  hand,  who  was  a  member  of 
said  church.  1  with  pleasure  forward  the  said  copy  to  the  said  First  Church  in  Middle- 
boro',  with  confidence  that  it  is  an  authentic  copy  of  the  original  record ;  as  my  great 
grandfather,  Ebenezer  Fuller,  who  copied  and  preserved  it,  doubtless  for  his  own  use, 
was  the  grandson  of  Rev.  Samuel  Fuller,  the  first  pastor  of  said  church. 

"  Halifax,  Sept.  5,  1826.  "NOAH    BOSWORTH." 

Note.  —  Mr.  Bosworth  died  March  7,  1837,  in  advanced  age.  It  is  by  his  just  view 
of  the  appropriate  disposition  of  such  papers,  that  this  church  and  community  are  in 
possession  of  an  account  of  this  transaction,  and  a  knov,'leJ-3  cf  the  original  m&mbers 
of  this  church. 


11 

THE  COPY  OF  EBENEZER  FULLER,  IN  1734. 

"  I.  Thou  shalt  remember  all  the  way  which  the  Lord  thy  God 
hath  Jed  thee  these  forty  years.  —  Deut.  8 :  2. 

"  December  26, 1794,  [0.  S.]  —  A  church  of  Christ  was  gathered 
at  Middleborough,  formerly  called  by  the  heathen  Namassacut,  a 
fishing  place,  as  some  say. 

"  The  persons  and  their  names  that  entered  into  church  fellow- 
ship, some  of  them  members  of  Plymouth  church  before,  being  dis- 
missed from  Plymouth  for  that  intent ;  some  of  them  members  of 
other  churches  dwelling  here  then,  and  some  that  were  never  in 
church  fellowship  before  that  time,  whose  names  are  as  foUoweth : 

"  SAMUEL  FULLER  and  his  wife,    JOHN  BENNET  and  his  wife, 

'•  JONATHAN  MORSE  and  his  wife,    ABIEL  WOOD  and  his  wife, 

"  SAMUEL  WOOD,    ISAAC  BILLINGTON, 

"  SAMUEL  EATON,    SAMUEL  CUTBURT, 

"  JACOB  TOMSON  and  his  wife,    JOHN  COB,  Jun., 

"  HESTER  TINKAM,   The  Widow  DEBORAH  BARDEN, 

"  WEIBRAH  BUMPAS,  EBENEZER  TINKHAM,— j&/S  WIFE, 

"  Not  being  present  by  reason  of  sickness  in  their  family, 
yet  after  owning  the  covenant  of  the  rest,  being  in  the  esteem 
of  the  rest,  it  is  as  well  as  if  she  were  there  present  at  that 
assembly,* 

"  Ebenezer  Tinkham,  Isaac  Billington,  Jacob  Tomson ;  these 
then  baptized. 

"  Soon  after  were  baptized  the  children  of  John  Cob  in  their 
infancy ;  John,  Martha,  Patience.  Also,  Lidia  Bumpas,  the 
daughter  of  Weibra  Bumpas. 

"  II.  In  order  to  the  gathering  of  a  church,  it  pleased  God, 
who  hath  the  hearts  of  all  men  in  his  hands,  to  move  upon  the 
hearts  of  sundry  of  those  to  desire  a  church  may  be  gathered  in 
this  place,  —  to  desire  and  seek  it  of  God  ;  and  Divine  Providence 
made  way  for  it, 

"  Letters  were  sent  for  ministers  and  brethren  to  assist  in  the 
work,  namely :  to  Plymouth,  Sandwich  and  Barnstable  :  and  the 
Elders  sent  Mr,  John  Cotton,  Mr.  Rouland  Cotton,  Mr.  Jonathan 
Russell,  and   brethren  to   assist   them.     Mr.  Samuel  Fuller,  then 

•  For  names  and  other  particulars  of  the  original  members  see  Descriptive  Catalogue. 


15 

ordained  to  be  a  Teacher  to  that  church  ;  who  had  hved  there  and 
preached  the  word  amongst  them,  whose  preaching  God  had  made 
beneficial  to  divers  of  them,  and  made  choice  of  by  mutual  consent. 
God  can,  and  oft  doth,  out  of  the  mouth  of  babes  and  sucklings 
ordain  praise. 

"John  Bennet,  Sen.,  our  brother,  ordained  Deacon,  —  Deacon 
in  the  church  of  Middleborough,  March  10,  being  the  second  Sab- 
bach  in  that  month,  and  chosen  by  a  full  consent  to  that  office  some 
considerable  time  before ;  who  formerly  dwelt  at  Beverly ;  whom 
God  in  the  way  of  his  providence  sent  to  dwell  in  Middleborough  to 
be  serviceable  there  in  church  and  town." 


«  ARTICLES  OF  OUR  CHRISTIAN  FAITH,* 

"  Then  also  read,  owned  and  acknowledged  by  us  at  the  church 
gathering. 

"  We  do  believe  with  our  hearts  and  confess  with  our  mouths  : 

"  I.  That  the  Holy  Scriptures,  contained  in  the  Old  and  New 
Testaments,  are  the  word  of  God,  and  are  given  by  inspiration  of 
God,  to  be  the  rule  of  faith  and  life. 

"  II.  That  there  is  but  one  only  living  and  true  God,  and  that  in 
the  unity  of  the  Godhead  there  be  three  persons  of  one  substance, 
power  and  eternity,  God  the  Father,  God  the  Son,  and  God  the 
Holy  Ghost. 

"  III.  That  this  one  God,  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost,  made  the 
whole  world  and  all  things  therein,  in  the  space  of  six  days,  very 
good. 

"  IV.  That  God  made  man  after  his  own  image  in  knowledge, 
righteousness,  and  true  holiness. 

"  "V.  That  our  first  parents  being  seduced  by  the  subtilty  of 
Satan,  eating  the  forbidden  fruit,  sinned  against  God,  and  fell  from 
the  estate  wherein  they  were  created ;  and  that  all  mankind  de^ 
scending  from  them  by  ordinary  generation,  sinned  in  and  fell  with 
them  in  their  first  transgression,  and  so  were  brought  into  a  state  ot 
sin  and  misery,  losing  communion  with  God,  and  falling  under  his 
wrath  and  curse. 

*  These  Articles  were  printed  in  172'i2,  and  reprinted  in  1771 ;  and  are  also  in  the 
Fuller  copy  of  1734,  but  are  not  on  the  existing  Church  Records. 


16 

"  VI.  That  God,  in  his  eternal  purpose,  chose  and  ordained  the 
Lord  Jesus,  his  only  begotten  Son,  to  be  the  one  and  only  mediator 
between  God  and  man,  the  Prophet,  Priest  and  King,  the  head  and 
Savior  of  his  church. 

"  VII.  That  Jesus  Christ,  the  second  person  in  the  Trinity,  is 
the  very  and  eternal  God,  of  one  substance,  and  equal  with  the 
Father  ;  and  that  when  the  fulness  of  time  was  come,  the  Son  of 
God,  the  second  person  in  the  Trinity,  took  upon  him  man's  nature, 
being  conceived  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  the  womb  of 
the  Virgin  Mary,  of  her  substance,  so  that  the  Godhead  and  man- 
hood were  joined  together  in  one  person,  which  is  very  God  and 
very  man,  yet  one  Christ,  the  only  mediator  between  God  and  man. 

"VIII.  The  Lord  Jesus^  by  his  perfect  obedience  and  sacrifice  of 
himself  upon  the  cross,  hath  fully  satisfied  the  justice  of  his  Father, 
and  purchased,  not  only  a  reconciliation  with  God,  but  an  everlasting 
inheritance  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  for  all  those  whom  the  Father 
hath  given  to  him. 

"  IX.  That  the  elect  of  God  are  made  partakers  of  the  redemp- 
tion purchased  by  Christ,  by  the  effectual  application  of  it  to  their 
souls  by  his  word  and  Spirit. 

"  X.  That  justification  is  an  act  of  God's  free  grace  unto  sinners, 
in  which  he  pardoneth  all  their  sins,  accepteth  and  accounteth  their 
persons  righteous  in  his  sight,  not  for  any  thing  wrought  in  them  or 
done  by  them ;  but  only  for  the  perfect  obedience  and  full  satisfac- 
tion of  Christ  imputed  to  them  by  God,  and  received  by  faith  alone. 

"  XL  That  sanctification  is  a  work  of  God's  grace,  whereby  the 
elect  are  renewed  in  the  whole  man  after  the  image  of  God,  and  are 
enabled  more  and  more  to  die  unto  sin  and  live  unto  righteousness. 

"  XII.  That  whomsoever  God  hath  accepted  in  Jesus  Christ, 
effectually  called  and  sanctified  by  his  Spirit,  can  neither  totally 
nor  finally  fall  away  from  the  state  of  grace,  but  shall  certainly  per- 
severe to  the  end,  and  be  eternally  saved. 

"  XIII.  That  the  grace  of  faith,  whereby  the  elect  are  enabled  to 
believe  to  the  saving  of  their  souls,  is  the  work  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ 
in  their  hearts,  and  is  ordinarily  wrought  by  the  ministry  of  the 
word,  by  which  also,  and  by  the  administration  of  the  sacraments 
a,ndi  prat/er,  it  is  iucrvasod  and  strengthened. 


17 

"  XIV.  That  the  visible  church  under  the  Gospel  is  not  confined 
to  one  nation,  as  it  was  under  the  law,  but  consists  of  all  those 
throughout  the  world  that  profess  the  true  religion  according  to  the 
Gospel  order,  and  their  children  ;  and  is  the  kingdom  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  the  house  and  family  of  God  ;  and  that  unto  this  church 
Christ  hath  given  the  ministry,  grace  and  ordinances  of  God,  for 
the  gathering  and  perfecting  of  saints  to  the  end  of  the  world  ;  and 
doth  by  his  own  presence  and  Spirit,  according  to  his  promise,  make 
them  eflFectual  thereunto. 

"  XV.  That  prayer,  singing  of  psalms  and  reading  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, the  sound  preaching  and  conscionable  hearing  of  the  word, 
as  also  the  due  administration  and  worthy  receiving  of  the  sacra- 
ments instituted  by  Christ,  namely  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper, 
and  all  parts  of  the  ordinary  religious  worship  of  God,  besides  solemn 
fastings  and  thanksgiving,  upon  special  occasions,  which  are  in  their 
several  times  and  seasons,  to  be  used  in  a  holy  and  religious  manner. 

"  XVI.  That  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  the  alonCshead  of  his 
church,  hath  appointed  officers  in  his  house  for  the  regular  carrying 
on  of  the  affairs  of  his  kingdom  ;  and  that  each  particular  church 
hath  power  from  Christ  regularly  to  administer  censures  to  offending 
members,  and  to  carry  on  the  affairs  of  his  visible  kingdom  accord- 
ing to  his  word. 

"  XVII.  That  the  bodies  of  men,  after  death,  turn  to  dust  and 
see  corruption,  but  their  souls,  which  neither  die  nor  sleep,  having 
an  immortal  substance,  immediately  return  to  God  who  gave  them  ; 
the  souls  of  the  righteous  being  then  made  perfect  in  holiness,  are 
received  into  heaven,  and  the  souls  of  the  wicked  are  cast  into  hell. 

"  XVIII.  That  the  bodies  of  the  just  and  unjust  shall  be  raised 
at  the  last  day. 

"  XIX.  That  God  has  appointed  a  day  wherein  he  will  judge  the 
world  in  righteousness  by  Jesus  Christ ;  in  which  day,  all  persons 
that  have  lived  upon  earth  shall  appear  before  the  judgment  seat  of 
Christ ,  to  give  account  of  their  thoughts,  words  and  deeds,  and  to 
receive  according  to  what  they  have  done  in  the  body,  whether  it 
be  good  or  evil." 


18 

"THE    CHURCH    COVENANT, 

That  was  read  and  consented  to  at  the  church  gather- 
ing:— 

"  Forasmuch  as  it  hath  pleased  God,  who  hath  commanded  us  to 
pray  daily,  that  his  kingdom  may  come  and  be  advanced,  and  hath 
given  direction,  in  his  holy  word,  and  manifold  encouragements  to 
his  poor  servants  to  seek  and  set  forward  his  worship  and  the  con- 
cernments of  his  glory ;  we  do,  therefore,  personally  present  our- 
selves this  day  in  the  holy  presence  of  God,  to  transact  with  Him 
this  great  affair  of  His  kingdom  and  glory,  and  of  our  own  salva- 
tion ;  and  humbling  ourselves  before  the  Lord  for  all  our  sins,  and 
the  sins  of  ours,  earnestly  praying  for  pardoning  mercy  and  recon- 
ciliation with  God  through  the  blood  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and 
for  the  gracious  presence  and  assistance  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  under 
a  deep  sense  of  our  own  weakness  and  unworthiness,  and  with  an 
humble  confidence  of  his  favorable  acceptation ;  each  of  us  for  our- 
selves, and  all  of  us  jointly  together,  enter  into  a  holy  covenant  with 
God  and  one  with  another,  that  is  to  sai/, — We  do,  according  to  the 
terms  and  tenor  of  the  everlasting  covenant,  first,  give  up  ourselves 
and  our  offspring  unto  the  Lord  God,  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost. 
as  the  one  only  true  and  living  God,  All-sufficient,  and  our  God,  in 
covenant ;  and  unto  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  our  only  Saviour, 
our  Prophet,  Priest,  and  King ;  the  only  mediator  of  the  covenant 
of  grace  ;  promising  and  covenanting,  through  the  help  of  His 
grace,  to  cleave  to  God  and  to  our  Lord  Jesus  by  faith,  in  a  way 
of  Gospel  obedience,  with  full  purpose  of  heart,  as  his  covenant 
people,  forever :  And  we  do  also,  by  this  act  of  confederation,  give 
up  ourselves,  one  unto  another  in  the  Lord,  according  to  the  will  of 
God,  promising  and  engaging  to  cleave  and  walk  together  in  holy 
union  and  communion  as  members  of  the  same  mystical  body,  and 
as  an  instituted  church  of  Christ,  rightly  instituted  and  established 
in  the  true  faith  and  order  of  the  Gospel ;  further,  obliging  our- 
selves, by  this  our  holy  covenant,  to  keep  and  maintain  the  holy 
word  and  worship  of  God  committed  to  us,  and  endeavor  faithfully 
to  transmit  it  to  our  posterity,  to  cleave  unto  and  uphold  the  true 
Gospel  ministry  as  it  is  established  by  Jesus  Christ  in  his  church, 
to  have  it  in  due  honor  and  esteem  for  the  work's  sake  ;  to  subject 


19 

ourselves  fully  and  sincerely  unto  the  ministerial  exercise  of  the 
power  of  Christ  in  the  dispensation  of  the  word,  the  administration 
of  the  sacraments, — the  Lord's  Supper  to  members  in  full  communion 
and  without  offence,  and  Baptism  to  visible  church  members  and  their 
infant  seed, — as  also  for  the  due  application  of  the  holy  discipline, 
with  love,  care  and  faithfulness  ;  watching  one  over  another,  and 
over  the  children  of  the  covenant  growing  up  with  us ;  and  all  in 
obedience  to  the  blessed  rule  and  government  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christy  the  alone  head  of  his  church :  and  withal  we  further  engage 
ourselves  to  walk  orderly  in  a  way  of  fellowship  and  communion 
with  all  neighbor  churches,  according  to  the  rules  of  the  Gospel, 
that  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  may  be  one  throughout  all  the 
churches,  to  the  glory  of  God  the  Father.  This,  our  holy  church 
covenant,  we  do,  in  most  solemn  manner,  take  upon  our  souls,  in  all 
the  parts  of  it,  with  full  purpose  of  heart,  as  the  Lord  shall  help  us, 
and  according  to  the  measure  of  grace  received,  we  will  walk  before 
and  with  God  fy\\j,  steadfastly  and  constantly  in  the  discharge 
of  all  covenant  duties,  each  to  other  ;  and  the  Lord  keep  this  forever 
in  the  thoughts  and  imagination  of  the  hearts  of  us,  his  poor 
servants,  to  establish  our  hearts  unto  Him  ;  and  the  good  Lord 
pardon  every  one  of  us  that  prepareth  his  heart  to  seek  the  Lord 
God  of  his  fathers.     Amen." 


RENEWAL   OF    COVENANT,  1713. 

At  a  church  meeting  early  in  January,  1713,  (N.  S.,) 
the  members  expressed  a  mutual  forgiveness  toward  one 
another,  and  friendship  for  their  pastor ;  and,  having 
decided  on  a  solemn  Renewal  of  Covenant,  agreed  to 
observe  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer.  At  another  meet- 
ing in  the  same  month  at  Mr.  Thacher's  dwelling,  his 
record  says  :  "  On  the  forenoon  I  preached  from  Jer.  50  : 
5.  The  afternoon  began  with  prayer,  and  then  I  read 
the  Covenant  and  expounded  it  to  them  in  particular." 
"  The  children  of  the  church  were  called  on  to  come  and 
own  and  to  improve  their  privilege  in  God's  covenant." 
"April  3,  1713,  (he  records.)  was  the  day  appointed  for 


20 

public  fasting  and  Renewal  of  Covenant  by  entering 
into  new  engagements  to  the  Lord  and  one  another. 
My  father  Thacher,  [Rev.  Peter  Thacher,  of  Milton 
Mass.J  was  present  and  began  with  prayer.  I  preached 
from  Rev.  2 :  10.  In  the  afternoon,  after  prayer,  the 
church  gave  their  renewed  assent  to  the  following  holy 
covenant." 

The  Covenant  here  referred  to,  was  the  original  one 
of  1694  ;  and  the  following  Achiowledgments,  called  an 
"  explication  of  the  Covenant,"  and  doubtless  prepared 
for  the  occasion,  were  adopted  at  this  time  and  entered 
on  the  church  records  in  connection  with  the  Covenant. 

'■''April  3,  1713.  —  We,  that  through  God's  goodness  have  been 
gathered,  and  are  still  continued  a  church  of  His,  having  here- 
tofore consented  to  the  covenant  of  grace,  according  to  the  gracious 
terras  thereof;  having  made  choice  of  the  Lord  Jehovah,  Father, 
Son,  and  Holy  Spirit,  as  our  God,  and  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as 
the  glorious  mediator,  upon  whose  fulness  of  merit  and  power  we 
rely,  as  well  to  be  strengthened  to  the  duties,  as  to  enjoy  the  bless- 
ings of  that  well  ordered  covenant ;  having  according  to  his  will, 
incorporated  ourselves  into  that  evangelical  church-state,  wherein 
our  desires  after  the  mercies  of  that  covenant  are  to  be  expressed 
and  answered  ;  being  sensible  that  our  justification  by  faith  in  the 
righteousness  of  Christ,  as  of  our  only  surety,  doth  oblige  us  to  keep 
all  God's  commands,  as  holy,  just  and  good  :  being  also  awakened 
by  the  heavy  judgments  impending  over  our  nation  and  country  ; 
would  search  our  hearts  after  what  might  be  in  us  provoking  to 
God ;  acknowledging  it  to  be  our  duty,  not  only  to  walk  circum- 
spectly, respecting  gross  sins  and  miscarriages,  but  would  also  guard 
against  prevailing  corruptions  that  often  prevail  among  the  people 
of  God  ;  especially,  to  renew  our  engagements  which  are  laid  on  us 
by  the  covenant  of  God,  which  hath  been  not  only  accepted,  but 
renewed,  and  is  hereby  renewed  and  expressed. 

"WE    THEN    ACKNOWLEDGE, 

"  I.  That  it  would  be  a  great  evil  in  us,  If  cur  love  to  the  world 
should  make  us  abate  of  our  love  to  communion  with  God,  or  abate 


21 


of  that  zeal  and  watchfulness  which  we  should  always  keep 
alive  in  our  souls,  oi'  hinder  us  from  the  most  affectionate  read- 
ing of  his  word,  and  seeking  his  face  every  day  in  our  houses, 
or  from  daily  use  of  closet  supplication  and  meditation. 

"  II.  It  would  be  a  great  evil  in  us,  If  we  should  [not] ,  on 
the  one  hand,  protest  against  any  thing  in  the  worship  and 
service  of  God  for  which  we  have  not  a  divine  institution,  and 
against  the  use  of  all  pagan,  papal  superstitions :  if  we  should 
not,  on  the  other  side,  to  the  best  of  our  capacities,  attend  and 
support  the  institutions  of  God  in  the  midst  of  us,  with  en- 
deavors that  there  be  nothing  wanting  thereto. 

"  III.  It  liwuld  be  a  great  evil  in  us,  If  when  we  draw  near 
to  God  in  his  ordinances,  we  should  allow  ourselves  to  be  formal, 
carnal  or  sleepy  in  what  we  do ;  or  if  we  should  come  to  the 
Lord's  table  without  due  examinations  and  humiliations  and 
supplications  preparatory  thereto ;  or,  if  in  managing  church 
discipline,  we  should  vent  our  own  passions  or  serve  our  own 
humors. 

"  IV.  It  would  be  a  great  evil  in  us,  If  we  should  abuse  the 
good  creatures  of  God  by  sensualities,  in  eating  or  drinking,  or 
recreations,  or  by  extravagancy  in  apparel,  or  in  the  irreverend 
use  of  God's  names,  titles,  attributes,  word  or  ordinances. 

"  V.  It  would  be  a  great  evil  in  us,  If  we  should  not  keep  a 
strict  guard  over  our  thoughts,  as  well  as  words  and  works  on 
the  Sabbath ;  and  also,  on  all  under  our  influence,  to  restrain 
them  from  violations  of  that  sacred  rest. 

"  VI.  It  ivould  be  a  great  evil  in  us.  If  we  should  not  study 
to  have  our  families  well  instructed  and  governed,  and  in  such 
a  condition  as  is  agreeable  to  the  fear  of  God. 

"  VII.  It  ivoidd  be  a  great  evil  in  us,  If  by  the  prevalency  of 
a  private  spirit  we  should  be  backward  to  any  public  service 
whereby  God  might  call  us  with  our  persons  or  estates  to  serve 
our  generations,  or  if  we  should  by  unjust  neglect  or  censure, 
ill  requite  such  as  have  been  serviceable  to  us,  which  are  the 
ministers  of  God  to  us  for  good. 

"  VIII.  It  vjould  be  a  great  evil  in  us.  If  we  should  fail  of  a 
patient,  peaceable,  forgiving  temper,  towards  our  neighbors,  or 
if  we  should  not  with  meekness  of  wisdom  smother  all  causes 
of  contention. 


22 


"  IX.  It  would  he  a  great  evil  in  ns,  If  we  should  spend  our 
days  in  idleness,  and  not  be  diligent  in  such  employments  as 
may  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God,  by  rendering  us  useful  to  our 
neighbors. 

"X.  It  ivould  be  a  great  evil  in  us,  If  our  carriage  or  dis- 
course should  any  ways  savour  of  a  lascivious  disposition  in  our 
soul. 

"  XI.  It  would  be  a  great  evil  in,  us,  If  we  should  use  dis- 
honesty in  our  dealings,  by  fraud,  force,  or  unreasonable  ex- 
actions. 

"  XII.  It  ivould  be  a  great  evil  in  us,  If  we  should  go. mali- 
ciously to  make,  or  injuriously  to  spread  any  false  reports,  or 
too  easily  receive  slanders  against  the  innocent,  or  countenance 
the  broachers  of  them. 

"  XIII.  It  woidd  be  a  great  evil  in  us.  If  we  should  not  con- 
scientiously observe  and  fulfil  what  promises  we  lawfully  give 
one  another. 

"  Xiy.  It  ivould  be  a  great  evil  in  us.  If  we  should  be  dis- 
contented with  others'  prosperity,  or  our  own  adversity,  wherein 
we  are  confined. 

"  XV.  It  would  be  a  great  evil  in  us.  If  we  should  not  be 
ready  charitably  and  liberally  to  relieve  the  necessities  of  the 
poor  that  call  for  our  bounties. 

"  XYI.  It  ivould  be  a  great  evil  in  us.  If  we  should  not  with 
a  brotherly  affection,  either  give  or  take  reproofs  where  there  is 
cause  for  them,  or  if  we  should  withhold  our  testimony  against 
whatever  might  fall  out  among  ourselves  displeasing  to  God. 

"  Wherefore,  we  do,  by  solemn  vote,  declare  against  all  these 
evils  as  abominable  things,  utterly  dispairing  of  any  strength  in 
ourselves  to  keep  clear  thereof;  we  do  most  humbly  ask  the  all- 
sufficient  grace  of  God  in  Christ,  that  neither  these,  nor  any 
-other  iniquities  may  have  any  dominion  over  us,  but  that  we 
-watch  against  them  all,  both  in  ourselves  and  in  one  another." 

'■'■March  12,  1713. — The  above  written  explication  of  our  holy 
,  church  Covenant  was  read  privately  in  the  church,  and  assented 
,to  by  vote.  April  3,  1713,  it  was  also  read  in  public,  and  as- 
,  sented. to  Qxpressedly.  "  PETP]R  THACHER,  Pastor:' 


23 


PASTORAL  FIDELITY. 

The  following  original  letter  of  Mr.  Thaclier,  to  a 
church  member  who  had  abruptly  turned  away  from 
the  Lord's  table,  is  characteristic  equally  of  the  writer 
and  of  the  times : — 

"  MiDDLEBOEo',  Feb.  4,  1740-41. 
"  Brother  Smith  ; 

"  Such  has  been  my  imfirmitys,  and  such  the  season,  as  hath 
diverted  my  loving  purposes  and  sincere  desires  to  visit  you,  and 
if  possible  be  so  happy  as  to  recover  you  to  a  sense  of  your  sin, 
in  turning  away  from  Wisdom's  fui'nished  Table  and  bidden 
Guests.  Alas  my  brother,  why  have  you  done  this  ?  This  ac- 
tion is  highly  and  greatly  aggravated.  I  know  of  no  Gospel 
rule  that  gives  any  countenance  to  such  a  breach  of  order,  and 
breach  of  covenant  with  God,  and  with  the  church.  Is  it  not 
practically  to  say  that  there  was  nothing  in  that  holy  Institution 
worth  staying  for  ?  That  you  were  at  your  liberty  to  come  to 
it,  or  stay  from,  as  you  pleased  ? 

"  How  could  you  pour  more  open  and  high  contempt  upon 
■one  of  Christ's  most  solemn  and  soul-endearing,  and  strength- 
ening institutions  ?  Had  you  then,  or  now,  assurance  of  having 
[even]  one  more  such  an  heart-melting  and  quickening  oppor- 
tunity ?  Have  they  been  such  empty  and  fruitless  opportunities 
to  your  soul,  as  induced  you  to  turn  away  so  lightly  ?  I  hope 
not.  What  could  be  the  reason  ?  Was  it  offence  with  myself 
or  any  other  communicant  ?  Matt.  18th,  directly  your  duty  in 
that  case.  But  surely,  every  one's  most  impoi'tant  concern  is 
with  his  own  heart.  If  it  was  your  offence  with  the  church  in 
general,  or  any  act  of  theirs,  will  you  withdraw  communion 
from  them,  censure  yourself,  and  break  covenant  with  them, 
before  you  in  writing  remonstrated  to  them  their  error  and  youl^ 
own  doubt  ?  Ought  you  not  to  have  done  this  before  you  had, 
in  such  a  Bianner,  disquieted  every  one  that  stayed  ?  Is  this  to 
eat  the  Lord's  Supper,  to  pay  suitable  and  thankful  reverence 
to  that  whieli  was  purchased  with  Christ's  blood,  yea,  and  shows 
forth  his  death  too  ?  Dear  b];'other,  you  must  have  wrong 
notions  of  the  terms  of  oommiisnion,  if  you  are  not  heartily  and 
deeply  liu'mMed  for  this  w^jdv^rtent  act  of  yours,  that  so  deeply 


24 


wounds  your  own  soul,  your  pastor's,  and  the  whole  church, 
and  greatly  dishonours  God  and  tends  to  bring  the  clmrcli  of 
Christ  and  that  ordinance  of  Christ  into  the  greatest  contempt 
in  the  eyes  of  them  without.  Dear  brother,  do  I  thus  speak 
because  I  love  you  not  ?  God  knowcth,— but  that  I  may  be 
found  faithful  to  Christ,  my  office,  and  your  dear  precious  soul. 
I  beseech  you  by  the  kindness  and  gentleness  of  Christ,  that 
you  would  be  moved,  be  persuaded,  be  overcome  by  one  who 
you  know  loves  you,  and  hath  your  salvation  at  heart,  to  be 
sensible  of  your  fault,  to  acknowledge  it  to  God,  and  to  condemn 
it  before  your  brethren.  Why  will  you  be  instrumental  to  bring 
down  my  gray  hairs  with  sorrow  to  the  grave,  and  hasten  a 
period  to  that  ministry  you  have  been  many  years  delighted  in  ? 
"  I  am  yet  your  loving,  though  grieved  pastor, 

"  PETER  TEACHER." 


MUTUAL  CONFESSION. 

The  following  document  is  found  in  the  hand-writing 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Thacher,  and  signed  by  the  members  of  the 
church : — 

"We,  the  subscribers,  members  of  the  First  Church  of 
Christ  in  Middleborough,  at  a  meeting,  this  10th  day  of 
April,  1738,  to  enquire  and  resolve  to  our  Rev.  Pastor, 
and  one  another,  whether  we  are  in  suitable  frames  to 
communicate  at  the  Lord's  table  together,  and  whether 
we  advise  it  proper  for  our  Rev.  Pastor  to  administer 
to  us  under  the  general  and  visible  decay  of  brotherly 
love  among  us ,  do  freely  and  humbly  acknowledge,  and 
have  reason  to  do  it  with  trembling,  grief,  and  fear,  that 
there  is  too  evident  tokens  of  our  want  of  love,  and  want 
of  peace,  not  only  in  this  precinct,  but  also,  even  among 
the  members  of  this  church.  We  desire  to  mourn  for 
these  our  sensible  divisions.  We  acknowledge  our  want 
of  zeal  for  the  interests  of  Christ,  and  the  discipline  of 
Christ  among  us;  that  we  have  been   no  more  united 


25 


to  discountenance  vice  in  ourselves  and  others,  as  by 
covenant  we  have  expressly  obliged  ourselves  to  do; 
and  also,  that  we  have  been  too  much  estranged  our- 
selves, one  from  another ;  our  want  of  zeal  for  the  honor 
of  God's  house  and  worship ;  do,  by  these  presents, 
severally,  each  one  for  himself,  judge  and  condemn  our- 
selves herein,  and  sincerely  ask  the  forgiveness  of  God 
and  our  brethren,  and  declare  by  our  hands  hereto 
affixed,  our  sincere  forgiveness  of  each  other,  and  our 
hearty  reconciliation  and  re-union  in  all  the  affairs  of 
Christ's  interest,  worship,  discipline  and  glory,  earnestly 
begging  grace  from  God  to  walk  together  from  this  time 
more  as  becomes  the  disciples  and  followers  of  the  God 
of  love  than  ever  before  we  have  done,  desiring  to  be 
mutual  helpers  of  each  other,  and  especially  comforts  to 
our  pastor ;  and  that,  for  time  to  come,  we  will  pray 
and  labor  for  such  a  unity,  as  may  render  us  terrible  as 
an  army  with  banners,  united  to  pull  down,  and  in  all 
suitable  ways  to  bear  testimony  against  all  sin  and 
wickedness,  and  to  watch  against  all  occasions  and 
temptations  to  contention,  and  to  mark  them  who  would 
estrange  us  one  from  another,  and  to  have  no  fellowship 
with  them. 

Under  a  sense  of  these  obligations  we  desire  to  come 
to  the  table  of  our  Lord,  and  into  his  presence  at  his 
table,  and  there  to  seal  before  his  immediate  presence 
what  we  hereunto  set  our  hands,  humbly  imploring  the 
grace  of  Christ  to  be  there  abundantly  shed  forth  on 
ourselves  and  each  other,  and  desire  that  our  pastor 
would  lead  us  thither. 

HENRY  THOMAS,  NATHAN    CLARK,  JAMES  RAYMOND, 

LEMUEL  DUNHAM,  BENJAMIN  TUCKER,  SAM'L  BARROWS,  JR., 
SAMUEL  BARROWS,     FRANCIS  EATON,  EDMUND    WESTON, 

OBADIAH  SAMPSON,  HEZK'A  PURKINGTON,  BARN'BAS  GROSSMAN 
SETH  TINKHAM,  COOMBS  BARROWS,     SAMUEL  EDDY, 

4 


26 


EBENEZER  REDDING, 
EPHRAIM    WOOD, 
ICIIABOD  PADDOCK, 
SAMUEL  WARREN, 
NEHEMIAH  BENNET, 
THOMAS  TUPPER, 
SAMUEL  EDDY,  JR., 
SAMUEL  WOOD, 
EBENEZER  FINNEY, 


BENJAMIN  WHITE, 
JONATHAN  SMITH, 
JOHN  CA VENDER, 
JAMES    SMITH, 
EZRA  CLAP, 
DAVID   ALDEN, 
JOSEPH  BATES, 
NOAH   THOMAS, 


THOMAS  WOOD, 
SAMUEL    SAMPSON, 
JOHN  RAYMOND, 
DAVID   DELANO, 
JOHN   VAUGHAN, 
ICHABOD   TUPPER, 
NATHAN  BASSETT, 
MOSES  STURTEVANT. 


ADDITIONS    TO    THE    CHURCH. 


There  have  been,  during  our  history,  several  consider- 
able revivals  in  our  church  and  parish,  and  the  records 
show  corresponding  additions  to  the  church.  In  1729, 
June  13,  Mr.  Thacher  notes  on  the  records  "  one  hun- 
dred and  seven  or  eight  communicated  at  the  sacrament 
this  day,"  the  additions  having  been  chiefly  the  preceed- 
ing  year.  In  1740-42,  being  the  time  of  the  "  great 
awakening"  throughout  New  England,  after  a  revival 
here,  very  deep  and  powerful,  an  account  of  which  has 
been  given  and  distributed  among  our  people,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  or  more  were  added  to  the  church. 
Also,  in  1807,  1808,  the  preaching  of  the  Rev.  James 
Davis,  in  the  absence  of  Mr.  Barker  at  "Washington, 
appeared  to  be  blessed.  A  great  religious  attention  was 
realized,  and  about  one  hundred  hopeful  converts  were 
admitted  into  the  church.  In  1818  and  1823  also,  the 
records  then  show  additions  to  the  church,  after  special 
seasons  of  revival  in  those  years.  There  was  also  a  con- 
siderable revival  revival  in  1830,  and  also  in  1840,  some 
of  the  fruits  of  which  appear  in  the  list  of  members  for 
these  and  subsequent  years. 


27 


The  additions  to  the  church  during  the  ministry  of 
our  respective  pastors,  have  been  as  follows  : 

Original  Members, 20 

In  Rev.  Mr.  Thacher's  ministry  about      ....    466 

«    Mr.  Conant's  "  86 

«     Mr.  Barker's  "        247 

"    Mr.  Paine's  to  settlement  of  Mr.  Eaton,  72 

«     Mr.  Eaton's, 61 

«     Mr.  Putnam's,        128 

Uncertain, 7 

1087 
We  have  no  record  of  the  additions  in  the  ministry  of 
Mr.  Palmer,  or  Mr.  Fuller. 


SINGING. 

It  appears  from  the  records  of  the  parish  and  of  the 
church,  that  the  choristers  were  chosen  by  the  church, 
and  that  their  choice  was  usually  concurred  in  by  the 
parish.  Here  is  one  of  their  votes :  —  "  The  easterly 
precinct  of  Middleborough,  Sept.  18,  1732,  voted,  in 
reference  to  the  singing  of  psalms  in  the  congregation, 
that  the  precinct  concur  with  the  church  so  far  as  to 
appoint  their  pastor,  Mr.  Thacher,  to  set  the  tunes  of  the 
psalms  in  the  time  of  public  worship,  so  long  as  he  shall 
find  it  for  the  peace  and  satisfaction  of  the  church  and 
congregation."  Since  in  our  day  the  singers,  as  a  choir, 
have  managed  the  singing  themselves  and  chosen  their 
own  choristers.  Once  the  parish  and  church  voted 
against  the  introduction  of  musical  instruments,  but  of 
late  years  no  order  has  been  taken  in  the  church  or 
society  on  the  subject,  and  the  singers  bring  in  such 
instruments  as  they  think  proper,  and  appoint  their  own 
choristers. 


28 


PASTORAL    POWER. 

As  a  specimen  of  manners,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
years  ago,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  Dr.  Palmer  was 
much  and  late  at  the  tavern  ;  and  when  he  left  for  home 
quite  late  on  one  occasion,  some  person  met  him  near 
the  door  and  "  drubbed  him  soundly  with  a  cane."  It 
was  soon  generally  known,  and  considered  to  be  well 
deserved,  and  that  such  a  mode  of  correction  was  very 
proper,  and  Mr.  Thacher  was  much  commended  as  an 
energetic  corrector  of  morals.  It  seems  to  have  been 
taken  for  granted  that  he  administered  the  correction, 
and  that  he  was  the  proper  person  to  administer  it. 


THE    ORDER  OF  THE    CHURCH. 

The  order  of  the  church  from  its  beginning  has  been, 
and  continues  to  be,  strictly  Congregational,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  platform  of  John  Robinson,  and  the 
practice  and  discipline  of  the  churches  of  the  Pilgrims ; 
the  prominent  features  of  which  are,  self-government, 
independence,  open  communion  and  free  toleration. 
"We  choose  our  own  officers,  and  depose  them  when 
there  is  just  cause,  receive,  dismiss,  and  excommunicate 
members  by  vote  of  the  whole  church,  yet  not  without 
advice  of  neighbor  churches  when  it  is  desired  by  the 
pastor  and  brethren ;  never,  however,  regarding  such 
advice  as  authoritative.  We  esteem  the  government  of 
the  church  to  be  wholly  of  a  moral  and  not  of  a 
coercive  character.  No  pastor  or  elder  has  ever  inter- 
posed to  control  or  embarrass  the  action  of  this  church. 


29 


"We  have  had  no  hostility  against  other  churches.  We 
liave  never,  as  a  church,  refused  occasional  communion 
with  members  of  other  churches  of  good  standing,  nor 
have  we  refused  to  dismiss  a  member  to  another  church 
when  such  member  has  desired  it  for  better  edification. 
We  do  not  censure  for  mere  opinion;  advocacy  of 
heresy  and  immorality  are  subjects  for  disciplinary 
action,  but  the  first  and  second  private  interviews  are  to 
be  had  before  the  ofience  is  told  to  the  church.  We 
claim  to  be  built  upon  the  testimonies  of  the  prophets 
and  the  apostles,  Jesus  Christ  being  the  chief  corner 
stone.  Our  articles  of  faith  are  instruments  used  to 
ascertain  that  the  members  all  agree,  but  delinquents 
are  to  be  tried  by  the  Bible  and  its  truths ;  and  although 
every  body  is  allowed  to  read  the  Scripturs  and  inter- 
pret them  for  himself,  yet  in  trials  for  heresy,  the  inter- 
pretation of  the  church  must  prevail. 

We  have  never  had  any  Ruling  Elders  in  this  church. 
There  is  not  much  in  a  name.  We  have  a  standing  com- 
mittee to  advise  and  act  in  all  cases  in  which  such 
offices  were,  by  the  platform,  authorised  to  act.  It  was 
a  decided  principle  of  Robinson  that  the  Elders  should 
advise^  but  not  rule  without  the  consent  of  the  church, 
and  this  principle  is,  that  in  which  Congregationalism 
chiefly  differs  from  Presbyterianism. 

The  church  has  an  annual  meeting  for  business  on  the 
last  Friday  of  every  returning  January,  when  the  Stand- 
ing Committee  and  Treasurer  are  to  be  chosen,  and  also 
committees  to  advise  in  respect  to  the  public  charities, 
and  who  also  are  to  take  the  responsibility  of  the 
religious  meeting  in  their  districts.  But  any  matters 
relating  to  the  duty  or  welfare  of  the  church  are  also 
attended  to  at  that  meeting. 


m 


Although  the  deacons,  by  law  and  usage,  are  the 
treasurers  of  the  church,  we  have  a  special  treasurer  to 
receive  the  small  contributions  which  the  exigencies  of 
church  state  require ;  but  the  treasurer  makes  no  dis- 
bursment  without  the  direction  of  the  church  or  the 
advice  of  the  deacons  or  pastor  or  both. 

The  church  considers  it  to  be  the  duty  of  every 
several  member  of  the  church  to  "lay  by,"  as  God 
prospers  him,  and  according  to  his  ability,  (of  which  he 
is  expected  to  judge  carefully  and  conscienciously,)  for 
church  purposes,  the  support  of  the  pastor  and  the 
Lord's  table,  and  also  for  such  objects  of  general  benev- 
olence as  the  church  shall,  from  time  to  time  advise,  the 
manner  of  the  collections  all  to  be  under  the  advice  of 
the  committees. 

Contributions  to  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  have 
always,  since  its  establishment,  been  taken  up  in  this 
church,  either  by  collections  in  the  meeting-house,  or  by 
collectors  appointed  to  visit  the  people,  and  also  at  the 
district  meetings  as  monthly  concerts. 

The  concerts  are  to  be  held  on  the  first  Monday  of 
every  month,  but  may  be  held  a  day  before  or  after 
when  notice  to  that  effect  shall  be  given  from  the  pulpit, 
and  collections  are  always  taken  at  these  meetings. 

The  sacrament  of  the  Supper  is  administered  on  the 
first  Sabbath  of  every  second  month,  beginning  in 
January  ;  and  at  the  close  of  the  communion  service  a 
collection  is  taken  for  the  support  of  the  table,  and  such 
other  calls  as  may  be  responded  to  by  the  church  as  a 
body.  The  standing  committee  will,  as  far  as  practica- 
ble, visit  such  persons  among  us  as  have  religious  hopes, 
with  a  view  of  their  becoming  candidates  for  admission 
to  the  church,  but  more  especially  they  will  be  present 


31 


at  the  parsonage  house  on  Friday,  two  weeks  preceding 
the  sacrament,  to  converse  with  those  who  are  candidates 
for  admission.  If  approved,  the  candidates  are  to  be 
propounded  two  weeks  before  reception  to  the  com- 
munion. The  lecture  preparatory  to  the  sacrament  is 
preached  in  the  vestry  on  Friday  before  the  sacrament. 

Members  who  change  their  residence  and  settle  in  dis- 
tant places  are  to  take  letters  testimonial  and  unite  with 
some  church  where  they  reside ;  and  members  of  other 
churches  coming  to  reside  with  us  are  expected  to  bring 
letters  testimonial  from  their  churches,  with  a  view  of 
uniting  with  this  church ;  and  on  presenting  such  letters 
they  are  to  be  admitted  as  members  by  vote,  and  a  copy 
"of  the  Book  of  the  Church"  is  to  be  given  them  for 
their  information  before  admission.  By  Congregational 
usage,  letters  testimonial  are  discredited,  in  case  of 
change  of  residence,  if  not  presented  within  a  year  from 
the  time  of  such  change.  This  church  admits  the  right 
of  every  church  member  of  good  standing  to  claim  such 
letters  when  he  conscienciously  believes  that  he  can  be 
better  edified  in  another  church  ;  and  good  standing  is 
to  be  implied  if  nothing  appears  on  the  records  of  the 
church  to  the  contrary. 

It  appears  by  the  records  of  the  church  that,  after 
the  early  deacons  were  chosen,  there  was  a  solemn  in- 
duction of  them  into  the  office  by  ordination.  Such  has 
not  been  the  modern  practice ;  and  this  church  con- 
siders that  ordination,  or  the  laying  on  of  hands  with 
prayer,  though  a  very  proper,  and  sometimes  a  very  im- 
pressive ceremony,  and  of  apostolic  example,  is  yet  not  a 
divine  institution,  not  commanded,  and  may  lose  its 
solemnity  by  being  made  too  common.  In  the  case  of 
the  choice  of  pastor,  the  church  thinks  it  should  not  be 


32 


dispensed  with,  not  only  the  primitive  example,  but  the 
manifest  solemnity  and  good  effects  should  cause  it  to 
have  a  place  in  the  order  of  Christ's  house. 

This  church  considers  that  our  order  requires  that  the 
pastors,  on  becoming  such  respectively,  are  to  be  subject 
to  the  discipline  and  watch  of  the  church,  and  before 
ordination  are  to  be  admitted  into  full  communion ;  and 
such  has  been  the  usage  of  this  church,  although  the 
records  do  not  always  show  that  it  was  done.  Mr. 
Fuller's  admission  is  recorded,  and  the  restoration  of 
Mr.  Palmer  shows  that  he  had  before  been  s^  member  ; 
that  Mr.  Thacher  was  also  a  member  is  clear  from  the 
baptism  of  his  children  before  his  wife  became  a  member. 
It  is  recollected,  if  not  recorded,  that  all  our  ministers, 
for  seventy  years  past,  were  so  admitted,  and  all  the  ten 
ministers  who  belonged  to  this  church,  on  their  settle- 
ment, had  recommendations  to  become  members  of  the 
church  over  which  they  were  ordained  pastors.  John 
Cotton  writes  that  he  was  present  at  the  ordination  of 
Mr.  Conant,  and  that  he  was  received  into  the  church 
before  he  was  ordained. 


PASTORS. 

1.  Samuel  Fuller. —  Mr.  Fuller  "was  educated  for 
the  ministry,  and  came  in  with  the  first  settlers  of  the 
town  as  a  religious  teacher,  as  well  as  one  of  the  twenty- 
six  purchasers."  The  Plymouth  church  did  not  permit 
its  members  to  remove  unless  provision  was  made  for 
their  religious  instruction.  Having  had  his  house  burnt 
by  the  Indians,  as  the  other  settlers  had,  he  returned  to 


33 

Plymouth  with  them  till  the  war  ended,  and  then  re- 
turned with  them  to  Middleborough,  and  continued  his 
ministry  till  a  church  was  gathered,  and  soon  after  died. 
His  whole  ministry  must  have  exceeded  twenty  years. 
The  tradition  is,  that  he  was  a  sober,  grave,  industrious, 
enlightened,  and  self-denying  minister.  He  was  buried 
on  "  the  Hill,"  the  burial  ground  provided  by  the  pro- 
prietors at  the  first  location  of  the  proprietary,  and  the 
legal  title  to  the  land  is  still  in  them.  But  the  town  and 
proprietary  were  so  nearly  identical  that  their  proceed- 
ings are  recorded  in  the  same  book.  The  following 
inscription  is  on  the  stone  set  at  his  grave :  — 

"  Here  lyes  buried  y®  body  of  y*  Rev.  Samuel  Fuller, 
who  departed  this  life  Aug.  y^  17%  1694,  in  y^  71*'  year         -,^ 
of  his   age.     He  was  y*  1''  minister  of  y*  Church  of 
Christ  in  Middleborough." 

Mr.  Fuller  was  the  son  of  the  pilgrim,  Samuel  Fuller, 
a  celebrated  surgeon  and  physician,  to  whom  both  the 
Pilgrims  and  Planters  of  Massachusetts  were  much 
indebted  for  his  success  in  treating  the  diseases  of  the 
new  settlements.  He  died  in  1633,  and  his  will  is 
recorded  with  the  "  Old  Colony  Records,"  and  printed  in 
the  Genealogical  Register,  Vol.  4,  p.  33.  In  this  he 
orders  certain  of  his  estates  to  be  sold  and  the  proceeds 
to  be  applied  to  the  education  of  his  two  children, 
Samuel  and  Mercy,  and  another  portion  he  devises  to 
Roger  Williams,  "  if  he  would  accept  the  same,  having 
heretofore  once  declined  to  accept  it."  The  New  England 
Memorial  says,  "  He  was  deacon  of  the  church,  and  for- 
ward to  do  good  in  his  place,  and  much  missed  after  God 
removed  him  out  of  the  world." 
5 


34 


The  children  of  Rev.  Mr.  Fuller  were  Samuel,  b.  1659^ 
Mercy,  Experience,  Elizabeth,  Hannah,  John,  and  Isaac. 
Samuel  settled  on  a  paternal  estate  in  Rocky  Nook, 
Kingston,  where  are  still  some  of  his  descendants.  Mercy 
married  Daniel  Cole ;  Experience,  James  Wood  ;  Eliza- 
beth, Samuel  Eaton,  and  Hannah,  Eleazer  Lewis.  John 
\j  and  Isaac  settled  in  what  is  now  Halifax,  then  Middle- 
borough,  where  there  are  numerous  descendants. 


A 


THOMAS    PALMER. 

He  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  native  of  Plymouth, 
and  brother  of  William  Palmer  of  that  place,  as  the  town 
voted  to  pay  for  the  removal  of  his  goods  from  Ply- 
mouth to  Middleborough.  There  was  much  opposition 
to  his  settlement,  and  at  last,  they  of  the  opposition, 
seem  to  have  been  taken  by  surprise,  when,  after  several 
years  preaching,  he  was  ordained  in  May  2,  1702.  The 
opposition  continued,  and  council  after  council  was  held, 
until  his  deposition  was  advised  as  has  been  stated.  He 
seems  to  have  been  a  rash,  headstrong  man,  and  the 
charges  of  intemperance  made  against  him  seem  to  have 
been  well  sustained.  Having  been  restored  to  the 
church,  as  has  been  mentioned,  it  is  pleasing  to  have 
ground  for  hope  that  he  died  a  good  man.  He  had  a 
numerous  family,  the  most  of  whom  died  young.  "  The 
Morey  estate  "  descended  from  him  to  the  daughter  who 
married  a  Chenet/,  and  from  her  to  Mrs.  Morey.  He 
lived  upon  it  all  his  life.  The  house  was  a  kind  of  gar- 
rison, and  built  like  the  old  meeting-house  with  "  two 
ridge  poles  and  four  gable  ends." 

His  children  were  Thomas,  who  died,  aged  24  ;  Zuri- 


35 


shadai,  died  aged  18,  1719  ;  Sarai,  died  at  2  ;  Job,  died  at 
25  ;  John,  died  1709.  Samuel  was  pastor  of  the  church 
in  Falmouth.  Elizabeth  married  Cheney.  James  in- 
herited a  large  estate  south  of  Plymouth  road,  near  W. 
S.  Eddy's,  which  he  greatly  embarrassed  by  his  negli- 
gence as  collector  in  the  time  of  the  troubles,  when  the 
"  Old  Lights  "  assessed  a  great  tax  and  compelled  James 
to  pay  it,  though  he  could  not  collect  it.  His  two  sons, 
James  and  Zurishadai,  sold  the  old  estate  and  removed 
to  Vermont. 

There  is  a  stone  at  his  grave  in  the  parish  burial 
ground,  and  another  loose  one  in  the  wall.  That  in  the 
wall  has  this  inscription : 

"  All  ye  that  pass  along  this  way, 
Remember  still  your  dying  day, 
Here's  human  bodies  out  of  sight, 

Whose  souls  to  have  took  their  flight. 

And  shall  again  united  be 
In  their  doomed  eternity." 

It  is  not  known  why  there  were  two.  The  memento 
is  the  same  on  each.  "  Dr.  Thomas  Palmer  who  died, 
June  17,  1743,  aged  70."  His  wife  Elizabeth,  died  April 
17,  1740,  aged  64. 

REV.    PETER   THACHER. 

A  tract  has  been  printed  by  the  church,  and  distribu- 
ted in  the  parish,  which  gives  a  very  full  account  of  this 
venerable  "man  of  God."  He  was  born,  October  6, 
1688,  in  Milton;  his  father,  of  the  same  name,  being  the 
pastor  of  the  church  there,  and  his  grandfather,  Thomas, 
minister   in  the  Old  South  Church  in  Boston,  and  his 


36 


great  grandfather,  Peter,  a  Puritan  minister  in  Salisbury, 
England.  He  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1706. 
He  began  his  ministry  here  in  September,  1707,  and  was 
chosen  pastor,  June  30,  1708,  before  he  was  20  years  of 
agO;  and  after  arriving  to  21,  was  ordained,  Nov.  2,  1709. 
January  25,  1711,  he  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Prince,  Esq.,  then  of  Rochester,  and  sister  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Prince,  of  the  Old  South  Church,  Boston,  and 
by  her  had  ten  children,  nearly  all  of  whom  became 
members  of  the  Church.  One  of  his  daughters,  Mary, 
married  Nathaniel  Foster,  and  some  of  her  descendants 
are  settled  here ;  two  of  the  children  died  here,  and  the 
others  all  removed.  Mr.  Thacher  had  an  excellent 
library,  was  a  hard  student,  a  laborious  pastor,  and  a 
sound  preacher.  He  died  April  22,  1744,  and  was 
entombed,  as  w'as  afterwards  Madam  Thacher  and 
Samuel  Thacher,  his  son,  in  a  family  tomb  in  the  parish 
burial  ground.  The  house  in  which  Mr.  Thacher  lived 
was  burnt  February  3,  1780.  The  names  of  his  children 
were  Peter,  Oxenbridge,  Samuel,  John,  Thomas,  Mary, 
Susannah,  Mercy,  Thedora,  and  Moses.  Peter  was  forty 
years  pastor  of  the  church  in  Attleborough,  useful  and 
beloved.  Mary  married  Nathaniel  Foster,  and  Susan- 
nah married  Samuel  Tucker,  of  Milton ;  Mary  married 
Rev.  Mr.  Shore,  of  Southbridge.  Madam  Thacher  was  a 
grave,  intelligent,  and  exemplary  matron,  for  many 
years  a  great  help  to  the  church,  and  lived  to  a  good 
old  age.     She  died  1771,  aged  84. 

REV.    SYLVANUS    CONANT. 

He  was  a  descendant  of  the  celebrated  Roger  Conant, 
who    was  with  the   Plymouth  Pilgrims   in    1623,   and 


37 


removed  to  Salem.  He  was  born  in  1720,  and  gradua- 
ted in  1740  at  Harvard  College.  He  was  the  son  of  Lot 
Conant,  the  son  of  Nathaniel,  who  came  from  Beverly 
and  settled  in  Bridgewater  before  1690.  He  began  his 
ministry  here  September  9,  1744,  was  called  to  be  pas- 
tor October  1,  of  the  same  year,  and  was  ordained 
March  28,  1745.  He  continued  his  ministry,  at  first,  at 
the  house  of  Madam  Thacher,  and  after  the  new  meet- 
ing-house was  built,  (which  was  the  same  year,)  in  that 
house  till  his  death,  which  was  of  the  small  pox,  Decem- 
ber 8,  1777.  He  was  buried  with  eight  of  his  parishion- 
ers in  a  field  of  one  of  them,  Mr.  John  Smith,  by  the 
road  side,  near  Otis  Soule's.  The  following  are  their 
names  :  Zechariah  Eddy,  Widow  Rhoda  Smith,  Joseph 
Smith,  Bethia  Smith,  William  Soule,  Sarah  Reading, 
Hannah  Love,  all  between  5  and  18,  December,  1777. 

The  following  is  the  inscription  on  the  stone  set  at  the 
head  of  his  grave  :  — 

"  Memento  Mori. 
IN     MEMORY     0  F 

REV.    SYLVANUS    CONANT, 

MINISTER      OP      THE      FIRST      CHURCH      IN      MIDDLEBOROUGH, 

WHO    DIED    OF   SMALL   POX,   DEC.    8,    1777, 

IN   THE   58th   tear   OF   HIS   AGE, 
AND  33d  of  his  MINISTRY. 

So  sleep  the  souls,  and  leave  to  groan, 

When  sin  and  death  have  done  their  worst, 

Christ  hath  a  glory  like  his  own, 
Which  waits  to  clothe  their  wasting  dust." 

The  character  of  Mr.  Conant  has  before  been  noticed, 
both  as  a  preacher,  an  exemplary  Christian,  and  a  pri- 


38 


vate  gentleman,  and  his  great  success  in  conciliating  and 
uniting  the  church  and  people.  He  was  successively  the 
husband  of  three  wives,  who  were  much  esteemed,  but 
left  no  children.  His  memory  is  still  dear  to  some  of 
our  people. 

One  of  his  wives  united  to  this  church  in  1758  by 
letter  from  the  church  in  Norwich,  Connecticut,  and 
died  in  1759,  aged  28  years,  and  was  interred  in  the 
parish  burying  ground.  There  is  a  stone  also  in  the 
parish  burying  ground  commemorative  of  his  death. 


EXTAKCT    OF    A   MONODY    BY  KEV.   S.    CONANT   ON   THE 
DEATH    OF    HIS    WIFE. 

"  1     What  voice  is  this  I  hear  from  yonder  grave 

That  charms  my  listening  ear — awakes  my  love? 
Sure  'tis  some  heavenly  guest,  inviting  me  to  rest 
On  my  Redeemer's  breast,  —  come  from  above. 

2.  My  -willing  soul  attend  without  delay, 

And  th'  heavenly  dove  descend  to  point  the  way 
To  soft  retire  and  shade,  amidst  some  silent  grade, 
And  be  my  light  and  aid,  lest  I  should  stray. 

3.  Welcome  sweet  solitude,  now  I  'm  alone, 

Let  nothing  here  intrude,  ho  damp  be  thrown 

To  quench  the  heavenly  fire  of  love  that  doth  inspire 

My  heart  with  warm  desire :  Lord  hear  my  groan. 

4.  To  see  thy  lovely  form  is  all  my  aim. 

And  meditate  thy  grace  and  charming  name. 

Oh  !  bless  my  longing  eyes  from  yonder  lofty  skies 

With  light,  that  I  may  rise  and  sing  thy  fame. 

5.  My  heart  with  sweet  surprise  is  drawn  away, 
A  captive  to  the  skies,  when  I  array 

My  ardent  thanks  to  bring,  unto  my  heavenly  king, 
Whose  praise  I  long  to  sing  in  endless  day. 

6.  One  thing  the  muse  implores  before  she  goes 
From  those  delightful  bowers  of  soft  repose ; 

Lord,  guide  me  in  the  way  through  life  to  yonder  day. 
Where   joy  without  decay,  and  pleasure  flows. 


39 


When  Rev.  George  Whitfield  preached  among  ns,  he 
met  Mr.  Conant  near  the  meeting-house  not  long  after 
his  ordination  and  asked  him  how  the  work  prospered 
on  his  hands;  Mr.  Conant  was  desponding  and  said, 
"who  is  sufficient  for  these  things."  On  entering  the 
pulpit,  Mr.  Whitfield  announced  his  text,  "I  am  this  day 
weak,  though  crowned  king,"  and  preached  with  great 
power. 

All  the  successive  wives  of  Mr.  Conant  were  greatly 
esteemed  and  beloved  by  his  people,  and  of  exemplary 
piety. 

Mr.  Conant  preached  a  sermon  at  Plymouth  in  com- 
memoration of  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims,  Dec.  22, 
1620,  which  has  been  printed,  as  was  also  a  sermon  on 
the  death  of  his  wife.  These  attest  the  excellency  of 
his  preaching,  as  have  also  those  who  sat  under  the 
"droppings  of  the  sanctuary"  when  he  preached. 


REV.    THOMAS    WELD. 

This  minister  is  sometimes  numbered  among  the 
pastors  of  our  church,  but  is  scarcely  entitled  to  that 
honor.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  in  1723, 
and  his  residence  seems  to  have  been  in  Boston.  On  the 
death  of  Mr.  Thacher  in  the  spring  of  1744,  there  were 
one  hundred  and  fifteen  male  members  in  the  church. 
Ninety-nine  of  them  invited  Mr.  Conant  to  preach  to 
them  on  probation,  but  the  parish  only  permitted  him 
to  preach  in  their  house  one  half  day,  and  he  preached 
for  several  months  at  the  house  of  Madam  Thacher. 
But  his  friends  "  built  him  a  house."     He  was  called  by 


40 


the  church  to  settle  among  them,  but  the  parish  peremp- 
torily refused  to  concur  in  the  call.  In  the  meantime, 
the  parish  had  applied  to  Mr.  Weld,  and  he  had 
preached  to  them  and  the  sixteen  members  of  the 
church  f  the  minority  had  given  him  a  call  to  settle, 
and  the  parish  concurred  in  the  call.  The  church 
protested  against  his  installation,  but  he  was  in- 
stalled October  2,  1745,  Mr.  Conant  having  been 
ordained  the  March  before.  He  continued  to  minister 
to  them  in  the  old  meeting-house  till  January  8,  1749, 
when  the  question  was  put  in  parish  meeting,  "whether 
they  would  dismiss  Rev.  Thomas  Weld  from  the 
pastoral  office,  and  he  was  then  dismissed  by  a 
great  majority  of  votes."  The  church  was  requested 
to  join  in  the  measure,  and  the  meeting-house  doors 
ordered  to  be  shut  against  him.  The  reason  of  this 
abrupt  proceeding  does  not  appear.  The  church  having 
passed  a  similar  vote,  March  18,  the  parish  again  passed 
the  same  vote,  and  agreed  to  join  the  church  in  calling 
a  council  to  complete  his  dismission,  giving  leave  to 
Mr.  Weld  to  join  them  in  the  call.  No  doubt  the 
council  judged  his  dismission  advisable.  He,  however, 
brought  his  action  in  Boston  for  his  salary  and  put  his 
people  to  much  trouble  and  expense  in  defending  it. 
He  lost  his  case,  and  "  brought  his  petition  of  review." 
Something  must  have  been  recovered,  for  March  26, 
1759  the  precinct  "  voted  to  pay  to  the  parishioners  who 
had  discharged  the  execution  of  the  administrators  of 
Mr.  Weld  against  the  parish  ;  to  Jacob  Thompson  £38 
6s.  2d,  to  Seth  Sampson  and  John  Miller  £16  2s.  lid, 
and  to  William  Harlow  and  John  Miller  £8  6s.  6^d., 
besides  £5  8s.  paid  to  Ignatius  Elms."  There  was  great 
embarrassment  in  paying  the  parish  expenses,  and  the 


41 


same  year  the  parish,  "  by  vote,  sold  unto  David  Sim- 
mons the  old  meeting-house  for  the  sum  of  £13  6s.  8d, 
exclusive  of  the  pews  and  the  pulpit." 


ELIJAH  PACKARD,* 

May  1,  1753,  a  Harvard  graduate  of  1750,  was  called 
to  settle  with  this  church  (the  minority)  and  parish.  It 
does  not  appear  that  he  responded  to  the  call.  He 
preached  twenty-one  Sabbaths  for  which  they  paid  him 
£1Q  16s.,  and  this  is  the  last  account  of  that  meeting, 
although  many  parish  meetings  were  afterwards  held  to 
wind  up  their  affairs.  After  about  two  years  negocia- 
tion,   the   parish,   which   had   been   divided   into   two 

societies  by  law  of ,  1747,  was  re-united  by  law  of 

1754,  and  settled  down  peaceably  under  the  ministry  of 
Mr.  Conant,  having  just  before  petitioned  general  court, 
"  that  no  presentment  might  be  made  against  them  for 
being  destitute  of  a  minister  until  the  precinct  is  in  a 
better  condition  to  settle  one." 


REV.    JOSEPH    BARKER. 

After  the  death  of  Rev.  Mr.  Conant,  the  church  and 
people  became  greatly  interested  in  the  preaching  of 
Mr.  Abraham  Camp,  a  graduate  of  Yale,  1773.  In  1778 
they  invited  him  "  to  spend  the  winter  with  them,"  and 
in  December,  "  Voted  to  give  him  a  call  on  probation," 


*  He  was  settled  in  the  ministry  at  Plymouth,  and  afterwards  went  to 
Marlborough.     His  native  place  was  Bridgewater. 

6 


42 


and  in  February  following,  unanimously  invited  him  to 
the  pastoral  office.  He  answered  doubtfully,  and 
requested  that  the  votes  of  the  sisters  might  be  taken. 
In  November,  1780,  the  church  again  called  him  to  the 
pastorate  by  vote  of  twenty-two  to  five.  It  was  said 
that  his  high  favor  of  "woman's  rights"  caused  the 
opposing  votes.  Mr.  Barker  was  recommended  by  Rev. 
Dr.  Emmons,  and  was  then  sent  for  to  Blanford  where 
he  w^as  preaching.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Yale,  1771, 
and  was  admitted  as  master  at  that  and  several  other 
colleges  J  was  unanimously  called  to  the  pastorate, 
August  9,  1781,  and  ordained  December  5,  of  the  same 
year.  His  ministry  continued  till  his  death,  July  5, 
"1815,  except  while  he  was  in  Congress,  he  having  been 
a  member  of  that  body  in  1805,  1806,  1807,  and  1808. 
In  his  absence  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  Rev.  Azel 
Washburn,  Rev.  Simeon  Doggett,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Robin- 
son, of  Westborough.  Rev.  James  Davis  was  with  us  in 
1807. 

Mr.  Barker  preached  a  century  sermon  one  hundred 
years  after  the  organization  of  the  church,  in  which 
many  of  the  historical  records  are  taken  notice  of, 
and  the  character  of  our  pastors  given,  which  was 
printed  at  the  time  ;  also,  a  sermon  on  the  death  of  Dea. 
B.Thomas,  in  which  his  life  and  character  are  very 
graphically  drawn.  He  was  buried  in  the  parish  burial 
ground. 

Mr.  Barker  was  considered  an  able,  sound  and  ortho- 
dox preacher  of  the  Hopkinsion  school,  and  much 
respected  by  his  people.  Those  who  had  lived  under 
the  ministry  of  Mr.  Conant,  thought  there  was  in  Mr. 
Barker  a  strong  contrast  between  the  two  in  pastoral 


visitations,  and  cheerfulness,  and  condescentionont  of  the 
pulpit;  but  there  was  very  little  complaint.  His 
studies  were  unremitted,  and  he  brought  "  beaten  oil " 
into  the  sanctuary.  He  was  an  able  sermonizer,  of 
which  a  volume  of  his  sermons  in  print  give  decisive 
evidence.  He  was  twice  married;  his  first  wife  was 
Eunice  Stebbins,  of  Longmeadow ;  a  lady  of  great 
cheerfulness,  economy,  and  piety,  and  much  esteemed 
by  all  the  people.  She  died  October  6,  1809,  aged  49, 
much  lam.ented.  He  had  by  her  seven  children: 
William,  a  graduate  of  Brown  in  1808,  James,  also  a 
graduate  there  in  1814;  William  died  at  Andover 
Seminary  in  1809 ;  Joseph,  who  has  a  family  and  lives 
in  the  parish  ;  Stephen ;  Eunice,  who  married  Elkanah 
Doggett,  and  lived  in  Chicago,  and  has  recently  de] 
ceased  ;  Elizabeth,  unmarried,  and  lived  with  her  sister, 
and  Mary,  who  died  in  childhood. 

His   second   wife,    (who   survived   him,)  was   Anna 
Huntington,  the  widow  of  a  clergyman  in  Connecticut. 


REV.  EMERSON  PAINE. 

He  was  a  graduate  of  Brown  university,  1813;  was 
ordained  February  14th,  1816,  not  without  much  oppo- 
sition ;  and  after  a  laborious  ministry,  (the  opposition  con- 
tinuing,) he  was  dismissed  on  his  own  request,  by  advice 
of  an  ecclesiastial  council,  July  4,  1822.  He  was  after- 
wards for  a  number  of  years,  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Little  Compton,  R.  I.,  and  afterwards  preached  in  Halifax 
where  he  died,  April  26,  1851,  aged  65  —  and  where  his 
widow  and  several  children  now  reside. 


44 


REV.  WILLIAM  EATON. 

He  was  installed  March  10,  1824,  having  been  previ- 
ously, for  ten  years,  pastor  of  the  church  in  Fitchburgh  ; 
was  a  graduate  of  Williams  College  in  1810,  and  at  Ando- 
ver  Theological  Seminary  in  1813.  lie  was  dismissed 
by  his  own  request  March  3,  1834  by  a  council,  and  was 
settled  in  Charlotte,  Vermont,  and  afterwards  in  Hard- 
wicke,  in  this  State.  He  died  in  West  Brookfield,  April 
12,  1840.    His  wife  also  has  recently  deceased. 


REV.  ISRAEL  WARBURTON  PUTNAM. 

Mr.  Putnam  is  a  native  of  Danvers  in  this  State,  a 
graduate  of  Dartmouth  College  in  1809,  and  at  Andover 
in  1814.  He  was  pastor  of  the  North  Church,  in  Ports- 
mouth, New  Hampshire,  from  March  16,  1815,  to  March 
15,  1835 ;  was  installed  pastor  over  this  church,  October 
28,  1835,  and  still  continues  in  that  office. 


THE   UPPER   GREEN— PROPRIETOR'S   MEETING-HOUSE, 

February  17,  1745.  —  About  forty  men  of  the  church 
and  parish  agreed  with  each  other  to  build  a  new  meet- 
ing-house, and  on  the  ninth  day  of  June,  that  year, 
purchased  of  Col.  Ebenezer  Sproat  two  acres  of  land  for 
that  purpose,  by  deed  of  that  date,  and  describe  it  as 
bounded,  beginning  at  Mr.  Lazell's  corner,  by  the  road, 
(corner  of  James  Sparrow's  garden,)  and  thence  by  the 


45 


road  south,  40  degrees,  west,  30  rods,  thence  north,  38 
degrees,  west,  14  rods,  thence  north,  48^  degrees,  east, 
28|  rods,  thence  in  Lazell's  Hne  to  the  road.  Deed 
recorded,  book  29,  foho  12-13.  Sproat  reserves  one 
share  and  conveys  the  residue  to  thirty-nine  others: 
Jabez  Vaughan,  Jonathan  Smith,  James  Smith,  Gersham 
Cobb,  Seth  Tinkham,  Ebenezer  Finney,  Noah  Thomas, 
William'  Cushman,  Benjamin  Tucker,  Edward  Thomas, 
Samuel  Eddy,  Jr.,  Zachariah  Eddy,  John  Cox,  John 
Cobb,  Ezra  Clapp,  William  Thomas,  Jas.  Tinkham,  John 
Smith,  Edmund  Weston,  John  Soule,  Henry  Thomas, 
Jeremiah  Tinkham,  Oxenbridge  Thacher,  Joseph  Bates, 
Jr.,  Thomas  Darling,  Jonathan  Smith,  Jr.,  Joseph 
Thomas,  Samuel  Thomas,  Samuel  Smith,  Benjamin 
Thomas,  William  Short,  Hezekiah  Purrington,  John 
Thompson,  Samuel  Wood,  Eph'm.  Wood,  Enen'r.  Wood, 
and  Caleb  Thompson.  The  house  to  be  55  by  45  in  the 
walls.  This  was  done,  and  we  have  the  records  of  the 
proprietary  to  recent  times.  Mr.  Conant  and  his  people 
worshiped  in  this  house,  and  after  the  union  of  the  two 
societies  in  the  year  1767,  the  house  was  made  about 
twenty  feet  longer,  by  inserting  that  width  in  the  middle 
of  it.  The  proprietary  continues.  It  once  voted  to 
give  it  to  the  parish  for  a  burial  ground,  but  the  parish 
refused  to  take  it  on  that  condition.  If  they  are  r  ow 
otherwise  minded,  no  doubt  they  can  have  it. 


THE    PARISH    BURYING   GROUND. 

This  contains  about  two  acres,  and  was  purchased  by 
about  fifty  persons  of  James  Soule,  in  1717,  March  30; 


46 


acknowledged  before  Josiali  Edon,  Esq ,  March  7,  1717, 
and  witnessed  by  Obadiah  Eddy  and  his  daughter  Ben- 
nett. Eecorded  book  23,  foho  203,  204.  Here  are 
the  names  of  the  proprietors :  Peter  Thacher,  Jacob 
Thomson,  Isaac  Howland,  John  Morton,  John  Thomson, 
Thomas  Thomson,  Jeremiah  Thomas,  WiUiam  Thomas, 
Jonathan  Cobb,  Sen'r.,  Jonathan  Cobb,  Jr.,  John  Cobb, 
Sen'r.,  John  Cobb,  Jr.,  Rodulphus  Elms,  Ichabod  King, 
Shnbael  Thomson,  William  Nelson,  Daniel  Yaughan, 
Ephraim  Wood,  John  Soul,  Aaron  Simmins,  John  FuUer, 
Edward  Thomas,  Elisha  Vaughan,  Jabez  Vaughan, 
George  Vaughan,  John  Vaughan,  John  Hascol,  William 
Hascol,  Henry  AVood,  Samuel  Barrows,  Benjamin 
Eddy,  Samuel  Eddy,  Jonathan  Morse,  Jr.,  Isaac  Fuller, 
Ebeuezer  Redding,  Jonathan  Smith,  Joseph  Barden, 
John  Miller,  Jr.,  Jonathan  Fuller,  Samuel  Tinkham, 
Seth  Howland,  Joseph  Bennet,  Samuel  Cobb,  Peter 
Bennet,  Joel  Ellis,  Samuel  Sampson,  Benjamin  Stuart, 
Thomas  Bicknell,  Josiah  Conant,  John  Tinkham,  Isaac 
Tinkham,  Joseph  Cobb,  Ebenezer  Fuller,  John  Bennett, 
Samuel  Bennett,  John  Raymond,  Jr.,  Samuel  Bennet,  Jr., 
Samuel  Parlour,  and  Nemiah  Holmes,  said  Soul  reserving 
one  share. 

The  first  person  buried  in  the  burying  ground  was 
Lidea  Thomas,  July,  1717. 


"THE    LOWER    GREEN." 

It  does  not  appear  of  whom  the  ground  was  purchased 
on  which  the  old  meeting-house  stood,  near  the  school- 
house  ;  but  the  "  Green  "  round  about  it  extending  north 


I 


47 


to  the  burial  ground  was  given  by  deed  acknowledged 
und  recorded,  book  12,  folio  196,  by  James  Sonic,  who 
sold  the  burying  ground  as  above, ''  to  the  proper  use, 
benefit  and  behoof  of  the  military  company  of  Middle- 
borough  forever  successively."  The  deed  conveys  two 
acres,  and  is  dated  the  June  20,  1717.  Mr.  Jacob  Soule 
held  the  originial  deed,  but  left  it  with  the  parish. 


REVISED     COVENANT   AND    ARTICLES    OF    FAITH. 

The  Covenant  and  Articles  adopted  when  the  church 
was  gathered  were  printed  in  1722,  and  again  in  1771, 
for  the  use  of  the  church,  and  for  the  information  of 
those  who  proposed  to  become  members.  When  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Barker  became  pastor,  the  Covenant  was 
revised  and  modernized,  preserving  the  substance.  It 
was  intended  to  express  the  implied  Covenant,  which, 
by  fair  implication,  those  who  professed  to  be  believers 
in  the  Apostolic  age,  entered  into,  and  which,  not  being 
written,  was  probably  explained  to  the  new  converts. 
A  written  Covenant  was  adopted  by  the  New  England 
churches  from  the  first,  in  John  Cotton's  time.  Hooker 
says,  "  The  Covenant  is  that  which  makes  a  church 
what  it  is,  and  gives  the  special  nature  thereto.  It  is 
called  a  '  house,'  the  body  of  Christ.  It  is  in  the  house 
of  God  as  in  other  houses  ;  we  must  become  covenanting 
servants,  if  we  have  any  interest  there."  The  substance 
of  the  Covenant  is  in  11  Cor. :  18, —  "They  first  gave 
their  own  selves  to  the  Lord,  and  unto  us  by  the  will  of 
God."  The  usual  form  is  given  in  Punchard,  313.  The 
substance,  as  declared  by  the  New  England  ministers, 
is  '^  giving  ourselves  up  to  the  Lord  to  be  guided  by 


48 


him,  and  to  the  church  according  to  God  to  be  directed 
by  it."  Our  revised  Covenant  fully  accords  with  these 
views. 

Our  Articles  of  Faith  are  intended  to  embody  the 
substance  of  the  Savoy  Confession,  agreed  upon  by  the 
Congregationalists  in  Synod  in  1658,  not  materially 
different  from  the  Presbyterian  confession  by  the 
Westminster  Assembly  in  the  catechism.  Our  brethren 
in  England  have  no  other.  A  particular  confession,  how- 
ever, may  be  useful  to  those  who  propose  to  join  a 
church,  and  to  the  church  also,  in  order  that  none  may 
join  but  such  as  are  agreed  in  the  fundamental  doctrines. 
It  is  usual  in  some  churches  for  the  candidate  to  sign 
the  articles.  But  during  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Barker  and 
Mr.  Paine,  no  more  was  required  but  to  assent  to  them 
before  the  pastor  or  committee.  The  articles  were 
revised  in  the  early  part  of  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Eaton, 
and  it  has  been  usual  to  read  them  to  the  candidates  for 
admission  in  presence  of  all  the  church.  This  is  done  in 
some  other  churches,  but  the  practice  is  not  general. 
The  Savoy  Confession  was  adopted  by  the  Synod  which 
framed  the  platform,  and  is  published  with  it. 


THE  COVENANT. 

You  do  now,  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  in  the 
presence  of  the  heart  searching  God,  of  angels  and  men, 
avouch  the  Lord  Jehovah  to  be  your  God. 

You  give  up  yourself,  your  time,  talents,  and  all  you 
have  to  the  Lord.  You  resolve,  by  the  help  of  Divine 
grace,  to  cleave  to  God  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  a 


49 


way  of  Gospel  obedience.  You  propose  to  make  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  at  all  times,  the  rule  of  your  faith  and 
practice,  so  far  as,  by  the  grace  of  God,  you  shall  be 
enabled  to  understand  them. 

You  do  also,  by  a  solemn  Covenant,  give  up  yourself 
to  this  church  according  to  the  will  of  God,  promis- 
ing to  walk  with  us  in  the  holy  communion,  and  ordi- 
nances of  the  Gospel,  willingly  subjecting  yourself  to  the 
watch  and  discipline  of  this  church,  and  engaging  to 
watch  over  your  fellow  members  with  love,  care,  and 
faithfulness,  for  our  mutual  edification.  To  this  do  you 
consent  ? 

We  do  then,  cheerfLdly  receive  you  into  full  com- 
munion with  us,  and  promise,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to 
treat  you  as  a  member  of  Christ's  body,  faithfully  and 
affectionately  to  watch  over  you,  and  always  to  be 
ready,  by  our  council  and  prayers,  to  promote  your 
spiritual  interest. 

And  we  depend  on  your  prayers  for  us,  that  we  may 
have  grace  to  perform  with  fidelity  this  engagement, 
and  that  all  of  us  may  be  found  faithful  even  unto 
death,  and  then  join  the  church  triumphant  in  glory, 
and  be  in  the  immediate  j)resence  of  our  Lord  forever 
and  ever.     Amen. 


ARTICLES  OF  FAITH. 

L    We  believe  there  is  only  one  living  and  true  God, 

the  creator  of  all  things,  and  that  in  the  Godhead  there 

are  three  persons,  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  and 

that  these  three  are  one  true,  eternal  God,  the  same  in 

7 


60 


substance,   equal  in   power  and    glory,   although  dis- 
tinguished by  their  personal  properties. 

II.  "We  believe  the  Holy  Scriptures  contained  in  the 
Old  and  New  Testaments,  were  given  by  inspiration  of 
God  to  be  the  rule  of  faith  and  practice. 

III.  We  believe  God  made  all  things  for  himself; 
that  known  unto  him  are  all  his  works  from  the  begin- 
ing ;  that  he  worketh  all  things  after  the  counsel  of  his 
own  will,  and  that  his  laws  and  the  principles  and 
administration  of  his  government  are  perfectly  holy, 
just  and  good. 

IV.  We  believe  God  created  man  in  his  own  image, 
holy  and  without  sin,  and  that  he  fell  from  that  happy 
state  by  transgressing  the  divine  command,  and  in  con- 
sequence of  the  first  apostacy,  all  men,  previous  to 
regeneration,  are  destitute  of  holiness,  unreconciled  to 
God,  and  under  condemnation. 

V.  We  believe  the  Son  of  God  has,  by  his  obedience, 
sufierings  and  death,  made  an  adequate  atonement  for 
sin,  and  that  all  who  are  saved  will  be  wholly  indebted 
to  the  sovereign  grace  of  God  through  his  atonement. 

VI.  We  believe  that  such  provision  is  made  in  the 
Gospel,  that  whoever  will  may  take  of  the  water  of  life 
freely ;  yet,  that  sinners  will  not  come  to  Jesus  Christ 
except  they  are  made  willing  by  the  special  regenerating 
influences  of  the  Spirit  of  God. 

VII.  We  believe  that  for  those  who  are  ordained  to 
eternal  life,  who  alone  will  believe  in  Jesus  Christ,  there 
is  no  condemnation ;  but  they  will  be  kept  by  the 
power  of  God,  through  faith,  unto  salvation. 

VIII.  We  believe  the  qualification  for  admission  into 


51 


the  cliurcli  of  Christ  is,  in  the  sight  of  Gocl,  real  piety, 
and  in  the  sight  of  man  apparent  piety,  and  that  all 
who  are  in  regular  standing  in  the  church  have  a  right 
to  all  the  ordinances  of  his  house,  and  baptism  for  their 
children. 

IX.  We  believe  that  every  church  has  authority 
from  the  Great  Head  of  the  church  to  administer 
censures  upon  members  who  walk  disorderly,  and  that 
it  is  not  required  to  refer  their  decisions  to  any  other 
earthly  tribunal. 

X.  We  believe  secret  and  family  prayer,  reading  of 
the  Scriptures,  a  religious  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  a 
punctual  attendance  on  the  public  worship  of  God,  and 
such  appointments  of  the  church  for  prayer  and  confer- 
ence meetings,  as  are  in  accordance  with  the  Scriptures, 
are  important  privileges  and  duties  of  professed 
Christians,  and  that  a  holy  life  is  the  best  evidence  we 
can  give  of  piety. 

XI.  We  believe  that,  at  the  second  coming  of  Christ, 
there  will  be  a  resurrection  of  the  bodies,  both  of 
the  just  and  unjust ;  when  all  mankind  will  stand  before 
the  judgment  seat  of  Christ,  to  receive  a  just  and  final 
retribution,  according  to  the  deeds  done  in  the  body ; 
and  that  the  wicked  will  then  go  away  into  everlasting 
punishment,  but  the  righteous  into  life  eternal. 


ORDER   OF   THE  MEETINGS  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

Meetings  are  called  at  the  pleasure  of  the  pastor  or 
of  the  committee,  or  on  the  request  of  any  three  of  the 


62 


brethren,  and  are  to  be  notified  from  the  pulpit,  the 
special  business  of  the  meetings  to  be  made  known  at 
the  same  time  if  desired. 

The  pastor  is  the  moderator  and  the  clerk,  but  the 
church  may,  at  any  time,  choose  any  of  the  brethren  to 
these  offices,  or  a  minister  of  a  neighboring  church  for 
their  moderator.  Everything  is  to  be  done  in  the 
church  in  an  orderly  manner,  according  to  the  establish- 
ed rules  of  civil  and  ecclesiastical  bodies. 

The  brethren  are  to  speak  their  sentiments  freely,  but 
in  order,  one  speaking  at  a  time,  and  the  majority  of 
votes  is  to  decide  all  matters  acted  on  by  the  church. 

Every  member  rises  and  addresses  the  moderator,  and, 
on  making  a  motion,  has  it  reduced  to  writing,  if  desired 
by  the  moderator  or  brethren,  and  when  seconded,  it  is 
read  by  the  moderator,  and  submitted  to  the  considera- 
tion of  the  church. 

The  moderator  decides  all  questions  of  order,  but 
there  may  be  an  appeal  from  his  decision  to  the  church. 

When  a  report  of  a  committee  is  presented,  a  vote  to 
accept  and  adopt  it  is  an  expression  of  concurrence 
with  the  views  of  the  committee. 

The  church  consider  it  to  be  the  duty  of  the  members 
to  attend  the  meetings,  and  their  attendance  is  expected 
when  not  prevented  by  necessity  or  great  inconvenience. 


DEACONS. 

John  Bennett,  chosen  deacon  at  the  organization  of  the 
church;  having  served  for  sometime,  w^as  or- 
dained under  the  election  of  the  church,  March 

8,  1G95. 


53 


Ebenezer  Finney  :  the  records  do  not  show  when  he  was 
chosen.  These  first  deacons  and  their  wives 
died  in  March,  1738,  and  were  buried  in  one 
grave. 

Samuel  Barrows,  )    Ordained  deacons  July  25,   1725. 
Ephraim  Wood  :    j  No  church  record  of  their  deaths. 

o  -ITT  1     Chosen  January  30,  1735,  ordained 

bAMUED    Wood,      K^      i   r  i^to^t     t^  i?-  a-^a 

Tj,  Tj,      '      ^  March  5, 1737.     Deacon  linney  died 

Ebenezer  Jb  iNNEY :     •    tvt     i    irr^r 
J  m  Marcli,  1745. 

T>  rr  1    Chosen  in  Nov.,  1745.   Dea.  Tucker 

J3ENJAMIN    IdCKER,       i-    j     t    i       n      inoi  J    no       T\^^ 

Gershom  Cobb-       ^^led  July  9,    1781,  aged   76;  Dea. 
J  Cobb  removed  to  Harwick. 

Benjamin  Thomas,  chosen  May  23,  1776,  died  July  9, 

1800,  aged  78. 
IcHABOD  Morton,  chosen  January  3,  1782,  died  May  10, 

1809. 
Abner  Bourne,  chosen  June  8,  1796,  died  May  25, 1806. 
Joshua  Eddy,  chosen  Oct.  10,  1805,  died  May  1,  1833. 
Perez  Thomas,  chosen  May  4,  1803,  died  May  21,  1828. 
Calvin  Tillson,  chosen  August  13,  1819. 
Samuel  Saivipson,  chosen  June  30,  1826,  died  July  30, 

1850. 
James  Sproat,  chosen  October  26,  1834,  died  April  15, 

1837,  aged  63. 
John  Freeman,  chosen  October  26,  1834,  died  Feb.  20, 

1847,  aged  59. 
Horatio   G.  Wood,  chosen  Dec.  2,  1842.    He  was  dis- 
missed in  order  to  become  a  member  of  the 

central  Congregational  church,  March  25, 1849. 
Nathan  Bassett  :  he  was  deacon  of  the  church  which 

worshipped  at  the  old  meeting-house,  1746,  Mr. 

Weld,  minister;  but  we  have  no  record  of  his 

election. 


54 

Ephraim  Wood,  also,  who  was  received  in  1715,  served 
many  years  as  deacon,  but  there  is  no  record 
of  his  election  or  ordination. 

Jonathan  Cobb  :  his  name  is  set  to  the  instrument  of 
"Mutual  Confession"  in  1738,  as  deacon;  he 
early  belonged  to  the  church,  but  the  time  of 
his  admission  does  not  appear.  Died  Aug.  5, 
1728,  aged  68  years. 


MEMBERS   WHO   BECAME  MINISTERS   OF   THE  GOSPEL. 

Peter  Teacher,  Jr.,  graduate  at  Harvard  College  1737  j 
settled  at  Attleborough. 

Samuel  Palmer,  graduated  at  Harvard  1727 ;  settled  at 
Falmouth. 

Nathan  Prince,  graduated  at  Harvard  1718;  settled  at 
Rattan,  Honduras.     (See  subsequent  notice.) 

Azel  "Washburn,  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  1786  ; 
settled  at  Rutland,  Vermont. 

IsAiH  "Weston,  graduated  at  Brown  University  1793 ; 
settled  in  Fairhaven. 

Otis  Thompson,  graduated  at  Brown  1798 ;  settled  in 
Rehoboth. 

James  Sproat,  graduated  at  Yale  College  1741;  settled 
at  Guilford,  Conn.,  25  years,  and  afterwards  at 
Philadelphia,  25  years,  and  died  1793.  S.T.D. 
Nor.  Car.  and  Philadelphia:  —  "Dr.  Sproat 
was  a  respectable  divine  and  loved  to  dwell 
on  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  the  Gospel.  He 
was  held  in  high  esteem,  and  evinced  great 
piety  and  submission  under  the  heaviest  afflic- 


65 


tlons.  In  the  midst  of  the  yellow  fever,  when 
but  two  or  three  usually  attended  a  funeral, 
more  than  fifty  attended  his  ;  and  some  relig- 
ious Africans  volunteered  to  carry  his  bier. 
He  was  converted  under  the  ministry  of  Mr. 
Tenant,  and  was  settled  in  his  church  after  his 
death."  —  Allen's  Bio.,  Die. 

Benaiah  Pratt,  was  not  a  graduate,  but  preached  in 
Maine  in  the  new  settlements. 

Daniel  0.  Morton  :  he  graduated  at  Middleberry  College 
1813 ;  settled  in  New  Shoreham,  Ver. ;  Win- 
chendon,  Mass.,  and  died,  1852,  in  Bristol,  N.  H. 

Noaii  Alden  :  he  was  not  a  graduate,  but  was  a  man  of 
distinction,  and  a  useful  preacher.  He  settled 
first  at  Stafford  and  afterwards  at  Bellingham ; 
was  a  member  of  the  convention  which  formed 
the  Constitution  in  1780,  and  also  of  that 
which  adopted  the  Constitution  of  the  U.  S.  A. 

HiLYARD  Bryant  :  he  graduated  at  Amherst  College  in 
1831;  settled  at  Wallingford,  Conn.,  as  an 
Episcopalian. 

Charles  W.  Wood  ;  graduated  at  Brown  University 
1834,  at  Andover  Seminary  1837;  settled  in 
Ashby,  Mass. 

William  Barker,  died  while  pursuing  his  theological 
studies  in  Andover  Seminary. 


NOTICE    OP    SOME    OF    THE    MEMBERS. 

Although  it  may  seem  invidious,  the  committee  feel 
constrained  to  notice  some  of  the  members  of  the  church 
who  have  gone  before  us,  with  some  particularity  :  — 


56 


JACOB    THOMPSON,   ESQ. 

An  original  member  of  the  cliurch,  a  man  of  distinc- 
tion as  a  surveyor  and  magistrate ;  he  surveyed  the 
"  twenty-six  men's  purchase,"  and  divided  it  among  the 
proprietors  in  lots,  and  also  the  proprietaries  of  several 
neighboring  towns.  He  was  a  man  of  great  weight  of 
character,  and  took  the  lead  in  the  deposition  of  Mr. 
Palmer.  Several  of  his  letters  to  neighboring  ministers 
on  that  subject  are  still  extant.  He  was  considered  a 
man  of  sound  piety,  and  a  pillar  in  the  church,  and 
greatly  respected. 


1724.  — SAMUEL  PRINCE,  ESQ. 

A  print  in  Boston,  called  the  "  New  England  Weekly 
Journal,"  of  July  15,  1728  says,  "He  was  one  of  his 
Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace  ;  and  five  of  the  Justices 
of  the  county,  and  an  ancient  captain  of  the  town,  (July 
5,)  were  bearers  at  his  funeral.  He  at  first  lived  in 
Sandwich,  then  at  Rochester,  of  which  he  was  princi- 
pal proprietor,  and  was  successively  representative  of 
each  of  these  towns.  He  was  religious  from  his  youth, 
and  much  improved  in  Scriptural  knowledge;  of  a 
public  spirit  and  an  open  heart.  In  1723  he  came  to 
Middleborough  with  his  wife  and  resided  with  Rev.  Mr. 
Thacher,  who  married  his  daughter.  Mrs.  Prince  was 
the  daughter  of  Gov.  Hinkley,  of  Plymouth  Colony,  by 
whom  he  had  seven  sons  and  three  daughters.  He  was 
father  of  Rev.  Mr.  Prince,  of  the  Old  South  Church, 
Boston,  the  author  of  the  Chronology.     He  was  buried, 


57 

by  his  own  request,  under  the  shade  of  two  oaks  at  the 
west  end  of  the  new  burying  ground,  (the  oaks  are  still 
standing,)  and  afterwards  removed  to  a  family  tomb  in 
the  same  yard. 

1723.  — NATHAN    PRINCE, 

Son  of  the  above,  was  educated  at  Harvard  College, 
where  he  was  fourteen  years  tutor  and  five  years  a 
fellow,  and  afterwards  an  Episcopal  missionary  in  the 
Island  of  Rattan,  Bay  of  Honduras,  where  he  died,  July 
25,  1748,  aged  50  years.  He  w^as  author  of  a  book  on 
the  resurrection  of  our  Lord,  and  of  another  on  the 
government  of  the  college,  both  of  which  were  in  great 
estimation.  "He  is  ranked  among  the  great  men  of  this 
country."  —  Aller^s  Bio.  Dictionary. 

1725.  — MERCY    PRINCE,    ALICE   PRINCE, 

Daughters  of  said  Samuel,  and  Elizabeth  Ames,  (1742) 
their  cousin,  were  very  important  helpers  in  the  church, 
and  the  tradition  is  that  they  promoted  the  presentation 
of  the  silver  cup  ;  they  may  well  be  called  a  family  of 
Princes.  Elizabeth  married  Joshua  Lazell,  and  lived  in 
the  house  where  James  Sparrow  now  lives.  Alice  mar- 
ried Samuel  Gray,  of  Harwich. 

1712,  1725  — MADAM  THACHER  AND 
MADAM  MORTON 

Were  grandmothers  to  many  parishioners,  and  mothers 
in  Israel,  ready  with  every  good  device  and  every  good 
work ;  the  pilgrim  spirit  was  in  their  hearts,  and  the 
pilgrim  blood  was  in  their  veins,  and  for  nearly  forty 


58 


years  the  church  had  no  better  helpers;  both  our 
records  and  tradition  bear  testimony  to  their  active 
labors  and  charity. 

1735.  _  SAMUEL    EDDY,   JR. 

He  was  among  the  best  hopes  of  the  church.  His 
wife  Lydia,  was  sister  to  John  Alden,  the  centenarian, 
whom  some  of  us  remember.  They  joined  the  church 
at  an  early  age,  and  we  find  his  name  in  every  impor- 
tant committee,  and  especially  in  the  troublous  times 
which  followed  Mr.  Thacher's  death,  he  was  relied  on  as 
well  qualified  to  meet  the  crisis.  The  committee  of  the 
General  Court  said,  "We  could  not  understand  these 
difficulties  till  Samuel  Eddy  came  before  us."  The  old 
people  have  told  us, ''  we  had  no  member  of  so  much  intel- 
ligence, firm  and  constant  piety,  and  sound  discretion  in 
the  things  of  the  kingdom."  His  early  death  was  much 
lamented.  His  two  sons,  Samuel  and  Nathan,  were  also 
members.  They  removed  to  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  were  fathers  and  grandfathers  of  a  number  of 
eminent  ministers  of  the  Gospel. 

1729.  — MERCY   BENNETT. 

She  was  the  wife  of  Nehemiah  Bennett,  a  man  of 
good  report  in  the  church.  She  was  a  centenarian,  and 
said  "  Peregrine  White  had  been  in  her  house."  The 
great  snow  of  1717  was  five  or  six  feet  deep.  She  said 
that  "  she  was  then  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  that  she 
and  two  other  girls  of  her  age  walked  to  Plymouth  in 
that  snow  to  meeting  on  the  Lord's  day,  thirteen  miles, 
and  returned  the  same  day."  She  was  firm  and  consis- 
tant,  and  persevering  in  her  piety  to  the  end. 


69 

1736.  — JOANNA    PADDOCK. 

She  was  wife  of  Ichabod  Paddock,  and  daughter  of 
Thomas  Faunce,  the  last  "  Ruling  Elder  "  in  the  Plym- 
outh Church,  the  son  of  a  pilgrim,  and  died  in  1745, 
aged  99  years;  a  man  known  in  all  the  churches  as 
''  mighty  in  the  Scriptures,  strong  in  the  faith,  of  great 
discretion,  and  deep  and  exemplary  piety.  A  letter 
from  Rev.  Mr.  Thacher  to  him,  on  the  subject  of  the 
great  revival,  is  extant,  and  soon  to  be  published.  In  his 
last  sickness,  he  showed  the  rock  on  which  the  pilgrims 
landed ;  spoke  much  of  the  life  to  come,  and  to  one,  who 
mentioned  to  him  the  good  he  had  done,  said,  "  tell 
me  not  of  that,  if  I  am  saved  it  will  be  through  free, 
sovereign  grace,  abounding  in  Christ  Jesus."  The 
daughter  was  a  Christian  worthy  of  such  a  sire. 

1708-20.  — ISAAC    FULLER. 

He  was  son  of  the  pastor,  and  a  distinguished  phy- 
sician ;  he  lived  in  the  "  Fuller  neighborhood,"  and 
practiced  in  the  neighboring  towns,  and  was  often 
called  to  distant  places.  He  was  honored  by  the  name 
*^  Mountebank,"  which  was  only  vouchsafed  to  those  who 
were  able  to  prescribe  an  infallible  remedy  for  all  kinds 
of  diseases,  or  supposed  to  be  so. 

1731  — LUKE    SHORT. 

The  record  by  Mr.  Thacher  is,  "  I  suppose  him  near 
one  hundred  years  old."  The  following  account  is  from 
a  magazine  printed  some  thirty  years  since,  and  which 
agrees  with  the  reminiscences  of  him  by  the  old  people 
whom  we  knew.    "  He  was  born  in  Dartmouth,  England, 


60 


where  lie  lived  till  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age.  He 
recollected  to  have  seen  Oliver  Cromwell,  and  to  have 
been  present  when  Charles  I.  was  beheaded  in  1649. 
He  led  a  seafaring  life,  and  settled  in  Marblehead,  and 
thence  removed  to  Middleborough,  and  had  a  family  of 
children.  At  one  hundred  years  of  age  he  worked  on 
•his  farm, and  his  mental  faculties  were  but  little  impaired. 
He  was  sitting  one  day  in  his  field  at  this  advanced  age, 
when  his  memory  was  fixed  on  his  early  life,  and  he 
called  to  mind  the  fact  of  his  having  heard  the  celebrated 
John  Flavel  preach,  and  his  text,  "  If  any  man  love  not 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  let  him  be  anathema  marenatha." 
He  also  recollected  much  of  the  sermon,  and  also  that 
he  said,  in  the  blessing,  ^  how  shall  I  bless  this  whole 
assembly,  when  every  person  in  it  who  loveth  not  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  anathema  maranatha.'  Whereupon 
a  Baronet  fell  to  the  floor  with  solemn  conviction. 
These  recollections  called  his  attention  to  the  subject  of 
religion,  and  he  obtained  mercy  and  joined  the  First 
Church  in  Middleborough,  and  gave  pleasing  evidence 
of  piety  until  his  death  in  1746,  aged  116."  His  house 
where  he  lived  and  died  was  on  the  rising  ground  about 
one  hundred  rods  southwest  of  Deacon  Tilson's. 


Among  the  aged  survivors  of  the  great  awakening 
and  the  wars,  and  troublous  times,  whom  some  of  us 
remember,  we  would  mention  Dea.  Benjamin  Thomas, 
Barzillai  Thomas  and  John  Alden.  Dea.  Thomas, 
though  not  of  a  cultivated  mind  in  other  things,  was 
well  versed  in  the  Scriptures,  of  inflexible  virtue,  sound 
and  clear  orthodoxy,  and  conscientious  in  the  perform- 
ance of  known  duty,  holding  on  upon  the  old  landmarks 
and  not  letting  them  go.     "  He   appeared  to  have  a 


61 


and  discerning  mind,  and  active  in  duty.  He  was 
humbling  sense  of  the  depravity  of  his  own  heart  and 
his  own  unworthiness  of  any  favor  from  God,  and  said  all 
his  dependence  was  on  the  free  grace  of  God."  —  Mr, 
BarJier'sfun.  sermon. 

In  1782,  he  was  a  representative,  and  in  1788,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  convention  which  adopted  the  Federal  Con- 
stitution. A  bill  was  under  discussion  for  repealing  the 
law  of  primogeniture.  The  deacon  declared  his  doubts, 
as  the  Scriptures  showed  special  favors  for  the  first  horU' 
A  Boston  gentleman  said,  "  the  Deacon  mistook  the 
Scriptures,  for  they  said  that  Jacob,  though  the  j'ounger 
brother,  inherited  the  birthright."  The  deacon  said, 
"  the  gentleman  had  forgotten  to  tell  us  how  he  obtained 
it,  how  Esau  sold  his  birthright  for  a  mess  of  pottage,  and 
how  Jacob  deceived  his  father,  pretending  to  be  Esau,  and 
how  his  mother  helped  on  the  deception  —  he  had  for- 
gotton  all  that!'  The  laugh  w^as  at  first  against  the  deacon, 
but  at  last  turned  against  the  gentleman  from  Boston. 

1742.  — BARZILLAI    THOMAS. 

He  was  70  years  a  member  of  this  church,  having 
been  admitted  at  the  age  of  twelve  years.  He  was  con- 
sidered as  the  most  faultless  and  quiet  person  who  ever 
lived  among  us.  He  appeared  to  have  great  religious 
enjoyment,  and  that  constantly,  conversing  on  nothing 
but  "the  things  of  the  kingdom;"  of  a  placid  and  hum- 
ble spirit,  and  well  read  in  the  divine  word. 

1742.— JOHN    ALDEN 

Was  grandson  of  the  pilgrim  of  that  name,  and  lived  to 
the  advanced  age  of  102  years.     He  was  of  a  clear,  sound 


62 


always  at  his  post  on  Lord's  day,  and  at  meetings  of  the 
church,  although  he  lived  four  or  five  miles  from  the 
place  of  meeting.  The  Bible  and  the  doctrines  of  grace 
were  his  ''household  words"  and  his  firm  reliance  in 
hoping  for  salvation.  At  the  age  of  ninety-eight  he 
gave  an  important  deposition  with  great  clearness  and 
promptness.  He  was  asked  if  his  life  seemed  long  ?  His 
answer  was,  "  No  ;  short ;  but  important  things  depend 
upon  this  short  life."  His  mind  and  body  seemed 
unimpaired,  when  he  was  visited  with  an  accute  disease 
of  which  he  died.  His  example  and  promptness  in 
decision  were  of  great  benefit  to  the  church. 

1786.  — ISAAC   THOMPSON,    ESQ. 

Was  a  man  of  great  usefulness  in  the  church  and  Com- 
monwealth. He  was  thirty-three  years  a  member,  and  for 
twenty  or  thirty  years  a  Representative  or  a  Senator, 
and  for  a  long  time  a  Selectman  •  was  esteemed  an 
honest  man,  and  well  approved  ;  was  prompt  and 
punctual  at  meeting,  and  an  intelligent  and  active 
Christian. 

1812.  — JOHN  WESTON. 

He  had,  as  was  supposed,  embraced  religion  forty 
years  before,  but  had  fallen  into  infidelity  on  reading 
the  book  of  Thomas  Paine  ;  at  the  age  of  eighty  he  was 
raised  from  his  fall  and  died  in  peace. 

Among  others  admitted  in  old  age  were,  in  1823, 
Josiah  Clarke,  79,  and  Mercy  Freeman,  77 ;  in  1742, 
Elizabeth  Lewis,  88  ;  in  1786,  Hannah  Tinkham,  94. 

1807.  — CALVIN    TILLSON,    JR. 
Made  a  credible  profession  j    was  admitted  at  the  age 


63 


of  thirteen,  and  died  at  twenty-four.  The  whole  eleven 
years  of  his  religious  life  was  active  and  warm  hearted. 
He  was  intelligent  and  familiar  with  the  Scriptures. 
He  was  much  esteeemd  by  the  church,  and  his  early 
death  much  lamented. 

1742 —  WOODWARD    TUCKER. 

Was  admitted  at  the  age  of  nine  years,  and  died  aged 
28,  leaving  a  good  report  in  the  church. 


NEW   SOCIETIES    AND    CHURCHES. 

The  town  of  Middleborough,  with  its  present  bound- 
aries, was  incorporated  by  Plymouth  Colonial  Govern- 
ment, June  1,  1669,  about  which  time  the  settlers  came 
in.  By  law,  the  whole  town  was  one  parish,  and  con- 
tinued to  be  one  about  fifty  years. 

THE  WEST  PRECINCT. 

This  was  incorporated  1719,  July  19,  and  included  all 
the  southwest  part  of  the  town  northerly  to  a  line  drawn 
from  near  the  mouth  of  Fall  Brook,  westerly  by  Trout 
Brook  to  the  Taunton  line,  including  also  a  part  of  the 
town  of  Taunton.  The  church  there  was  organized 
October  12,  1725.  Our  records  do  not  show  the  names 
of  the  persons  dismissed  in  order  to  become  members  of 
that  church.  Two,  Ebenezer  Richmond  and  William 
Strowbridge,  and  probably  theirwives,  were  among  the 
original  members;  and  March  24,  1727,  Elizabeth 
Hacket  was  dismissed  to  join  that  church. 


64 


The  first  minister  was  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Ruggles,  a 
graduate  of  Yale,  in  1721,  after  him  Eev.  Caleb  Turner, 
a  graduate  at  Yale  in  1758,  after  him  Thomas  Crafts, 
a  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1783,  after  him  Rev.  John 
Shaw,  a  graduate  of  Brown  in  1805,  then  Rev.  Homer 
Barrows,  a  graduate  of  Amherst  in  1831,  then  Rev.  Mr. 
Bragg,  a  graduate  of  Amherst  in  1838.  A  new  meeting- 
house was  built  by  that  church  and  parish  in  1835. 
The  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  Calvin  Chapman,  a 
graduate  of  Bowdoin  College  in  1839. 


/ 


HALIFAX. 

In  1735  the  present  town  of  Halifax  was  incorporated, 
and  included  within  its  lines  a  portion  of  what  had  been 
before  Middleborough,  our  lines  having  before  extended 
to  Winnatuxet  River.  The  following  named  members 
of  our  church  were  dismissed  with  letters  testimonial, 
with  a  view  of  becoming  original  members  of  the  church 
to  be  gathered  in  that  town,  which  forthwith  took  place  : 
Hannah  Fuller,  Phebe  Standish,  Ichabod  Standish,  Abi- 
gail Tinkham,  Elizabeth  Fuller,  Mary  Wood,  Elizabeth 
V  Thompson,  Mary  Thompson,  Sen'r.,  Mary  Thompson, 
Lidea  Cobb,  Sarah  Drew,  Elizabeth  Drew,  Isaac  Tink- 
liam,  ^benezer  Fuller,  John  Fuller,  Timothy  Wood, 
•j^homas  Thompson,  JEbenezer  Cobb,  and  John  Drew,  Jr. 
The  record  adds,  "  Their  dismissions  and  recommenda- 
tions are  to  be  signed  by  the  pastor,  the  deacons  and 
Justice  White."  This  was  October  13,  1734.  A  Congre- 
gational church  and  the  worship  have  always  since  been 
sustained  in  that  town.  John  Cotton,  the  first  pastor, 
was  a  man  of  considerable  distinction,  after  him 
Rev.  Ephrahim  Briggs,  and  then  Rev.  Abel  Richmond, 


65 


exercised  each  a  long  pastorate.*  They  have  had  no  settled. 
Minister   since  Mr.  Rowland's  dismission  in   1835,  but 

have  recently  invited  Mr. Kimball  to  become  their 

pastor,  and  are  erecting  a  new  meeting-house. 

TITICUT   PARISH. 

There  was  a  revival  in  Titicut  under  the  preach- 
ing of  Mr.  Byram,  in  1741,  and  a  parish  incorpo- 
rated February  4,  1743.  But  as  the  churches  of 
Bridgewater  and  Middleborough  refused  to  dismiss  their 
members,  no  church  was  organized  until  February  16, 
1748  ;  and  even  then,  no  dismissions  were  granted  under 
the  mutual  jealousy  of  Rev.  Mr.  Shaw's  church  and  Rev. 
Mr.  Conant's,  that  they  would  not  get  the  right  minis- 
ter ;  the  one  being  for  an  "  old  light "  and  the  other  for  a 
**  new  light."  Rev.  Isaac  Bachus  says, "  they  resolved  to 
be  restrained  by  such  tyranny  no  longer."  "  The  church 
increased  to  three  score  members  in  ten  months."  The 
meeting-house  had  been  raised  and  covered  in  1747,  but 
in*  1748  a  tax  was  laid  upon  the  whole  parish  for  com- 
pleting it,  much  to  the  ofience  of  the  "  new  lights,"  who, 
it  seems,  did  not  worship  in  it.  Mr.  Bachus  preached 
two  months  in  it,  but  was  turned  over  to  the  "  new 
lights,"  and  taxed  and  distrained  for  it,  which  he  says 
was  "  all  he  got  for  his  two  months'  preaching."  He, 
however,  preached  among  them  as  a  Congregationalist, 
until  a  Baptist  church  was  gathered  there  January  26, 
1756,  of  which  he  was  ordained  its  pastor. 

A  dissention  about  baptism  took  the  place  of  the  ^^  old 
light   and   new  light "  controversy,  which   put  all  the 

*  Note. — Rev.  Wm.  Patten  was  the  second  pastor,  and  was  settled  there  in  1757. 
Rev.  Elbridge  G.  Howe,  and  Rev.  Freeman  P.  Rowland,  succeeded  Mr.  Richmond,  each 
in  a  short  pastorate  ;  since  which  time  there  has  been  a  stated  supply  successively  by 
Rev.  E.  Paine,  and  Rev.  E.  Sanford. 

9 


66 


churches  of  New  England  in  commotion.  Several 
councils  were  called,  one  of  them  represented  thirty- 
seven  churches.  Some  contended  that  there  should  be 
no  communion  with  such  as  did  not  baptize  their 
children ;  some  contended  for  immersion,  and  that  there 
should  be  no  communion  with  such  as  were  not  im- 
mersed. Mr.  Bachus  was  at  first  very  liberal,  and 
though  he  would  not  baptize  infants,  he  allowed  it  to 
be  done  by  other  ministers,  and  he  was  willing  to  com- 
mune with  such  as  were  baptized  only  by  sprinkling ; 
but  he  says  he  found  John  Bimyan's  reasons  for  open 
communion  were  unsatisfactory  to  him,  and  he  thought 
best  to  take  the  separate  stand. 

The  Titicut  Parish  extends  to  the  west  precinct  line, 
and  to  Purchade  Brook,  with  the  exception  of  certain 
estates  which  yet  belonged  to  the  old  parish ;  it  also 
includes  a  part  of  Bridgewater  to  the  "  four  mile  line." 
Mr.  Solomon  Reed,  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  in 
1739,  was  settled  in  1756,  and  continued  pastor  till  his 
death  in  1785;  he  was  succeeded  by  Eev.  David 
Gurney,  who  was  a  graduate  there  in  1785,  and  was 
pastor  till  his  death  1815.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Phillip  Colby,  ordained  Jan.  1,  1817,  and  who  continued 
to  be  their  pastor  till  his  death,  Feb.  27,  1851.  They 
built  a  new  meeting-house  in  1808,  and  it  had  recently 
been  remodelled  and  finished,  when  on  Feb.  29,  1852,  it 
was  entirely  burned  down,  four  days  before  the  time  set 
for  the  ordination  of  their  pastor  elect,  Mr.  Thomas  E. 
Bliss,  and  the  ordination  was  postponed.  A  new  Meet- 
ing-house has  since  been  erected,  and  Mr.  Bliss  was  or- 
dained in  it  June  2,  1852. 

NORTH    ROCHESTER. 
In    1793,    the    southeasterly   part  of  the  town    was 


67 


incorporated  with  a  part  of  the  towns  of  Rochester  and 
Freetown,  and  constituted  a  parish,  now  known  by  the 
name  of  North  Rochester.  In  1794  the  north  line  was 
perambulated,  and  was  run  from  Pocksha  Pond,  by  the 
north  line  of  the  farms  of  Nehemiah  Bennet,  Esq.  and 
Martin  Keith,  Esq.,  and  thence  due  east  to  the  line  of 
the  town  of  Carver.  It  seems  a  church  had  been 
gathered  there  previously  to  the  act  of  incorporation. 
Jacob  Bennett  and  his  wife,  Hope  Bennett,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Nelson,  and  Elijah  Perry  and  his  wife, 
Sarah  Perry,  were  members,  and  said  to  have  come  from 
our  church.  It  is  not  improbable  that  they  joined  it 
under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  T.  Weld,  as  Mr.  Bennett 
belonged  to  Mr.  Weld's  meeting,  and  we  have  no  records 
of  what  the  church  under  Mr.  Weld  did,  or  of  its 
members.  Mr.  Bennett  returned  here  in  1785,  and  his 
wife  communed  with  our  church,  but  it  is  not  remem- 
bered that  Mr.  Bennett  did.  A  meeting-house  was 
built  soon  after  the  act  of  incorporation,  and  the  ordi- 
nances were  administered  to  the  church.  Rev.  Calvin 
Chaddock  being  the  first  pastor.  He  was  a  graduate  of 
Dartmouth  College  in  1791 ;  and  since  his  death  a  new 
meeting-house  has  been  built,  and  their  present  pastor 
is  Rev.  Isaac  Briggs,  a  graduate  of  Brown  University 
in  1795.  It  seems  that  a  Mr.  West  preached  a  number 
of  years  at  'Sowampset,  and  that  the  people  on  the  east 
side  of  the  pond  attended  his  meeting,  usually  passing 
over  in  boats  ;  that  the  church  was  organized  under  his 
ministry,  and  that  this  church  became  connected  with 
the  North  Rochester  precinct.  We  have  no  records  of 
that  church,  but  have  a  diary  of  Mr.  Bennett,  from  which 
it  appears  that  such  was  the  fact,  and  that  he  was  a 
member,   and  that  several  of  our  church  who  joined 


68 

under  the    ministry   of    Mr.  Weld    became    connected 
with  that  church. 

CENTRAL  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH. 

The  organization  of  this  church  took  place  in  the 
meeting-house  of  the  first  precinct,  March  25,  1847. 
Rev.  E.  N.  Kirk,  of  Boston,  preached,  and  Rev.  L  W. 
Putnam,  pastor  of  the  first  church,  gave  the  right  hand 
of  fellowship.  The  transaction  took  place  imder  the 
advice  of  an  ecclesiastical  council.  The  establishment 
of  a  society  connected  with  the  church  took  place  about 
the  same  time,  in  pursuance  of  the  provisions  of  the 
Revised  Statutes;  first,  by  a  voluntary  agreement  of 
members,  and  then  by  a  warrant  from  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  issued  upon  the  petition  of  the  members,  autho- 
rising the  first  meeting.  The  society  is  not  by  lines,  but 
expects  its  members  from  the  first  precinct,  on  the 
westerly  side  of  the  Nemasket  River.  They  built  their 
present  elegant  house  of  worship  at  the  "  Four  Corners," 
finished  in  1849.  Their  first  and  present  pastor.  Rev. 
Isaiah  C.  Thacher,  a  graduate  of  Union  College,  1841,  was 
installed  August  16,  1849,  having  before  been  settled  in 
Mattapoiset,  (Rochester.)  Their  covenant  and  articles  of 
faith  are  identical  with  those  of  this  church.  The 
deacons  are  Hratoio  G.  Wood,  Ebenezer  Pickens,  and 
James  D.  Wilder.  The  Central  Church,  at  its  organiza- 
tion, consisted  of  thirty-three  members,  who,  at  their 
request,  were  dismissed  from  the  First  Church,  and  cor- 
dially recommended  for  the  enterprise. 

The  following  are  their  names  : — 

Cornelius  Burgess,  Mrs.  Abigail  W.  Wood, 

Mrs.  Melissa  Burgess,  Miss  Emily  T.  Wood, 

Mrs.  Betsey  T.  Burgess,  Adoniram  J.  Cushman, 

Horatio  G.  Wood,  Mrs.  Ann  S.  Cushman, 


69 


Consider  Bobbins, 
Mrs.  Ruth  Reed, 
James  D.  Wilder, 
Mrs.  Bathsheba  Wilder, 
James  Warren, 
Mrs.  Margaret  Warren, 
Nathan  Perkins,  Jr., 
John  Perkins^ 
Mrs.  Ann  S.  Perkins, 
Ebenezer  Pickens, 
Mrs.  Mary  B.  Pickens, 
Mrs.  Abigail  S.  Pickens, 
Miss  Caroline  M.  Pickens, 


Nathan  King, 

Mrs.  Eliz'bth  H.  Washbnrn, 
"    Olivia  A.  Hitchcock, 
"    Freelove  P.Rounseville, 
"    Betsey  Thomas, 
«    Elizabeth  Wood, 

Miss  Eleanor  B.  Wood, 

Mrs.  Almira  Goddard, 

Miss  Sarah  Jackson, 

Mrs.  Zilpha  M.  Clark, 

Miss   Hope  Writhington, 

Mrs.  Mary  Dunham. 


Admissions  since  the  organization. 

Miss  Harriet  Rounseville, 
Mrs.  Mary  C.  Thacher, 


1847. 
Mrs.  Lucy  C.  Wood, 

«    Ellen  Wood, 

"    Elisabeth  Whitmore, 
1848. 
Mrs.  Lucy  Bourne, 
Joseph  Sampson, 
Mrs.  Harriet  Eaton, 

"    Maria  L.  Harlow, 
1849. 
Branch  Harlow. 
Andrew  J.  Pickens, 
James  M.  Pickens, 
Perry  A.  Wilbur, 
Henry  D.  Bassett, 
Edward  Burt, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Burt, 
Henry  Arnold, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Arnold, 
Miss  Sarah  Lane, 
1850. 
John  McCloud. 
Nathan  Dunbar, 
Mrs.  Betsey  Dunbar, 
Miss  Eveline  H.  Wilder, 


Miss  Lauretta  W.  Wing, 
Elijah  Burgess, 
Isaac  D.  Bump, 
Mrs.  Juliana  Bump, 
Miss  Elizabeth  Cushman, 

"    Emily  F.  Perkins, 
Mrs,  Almira  E.  Perkins, 

"    Sarah  Tucker, 
George  Back, 
George  Washburn, 
George  H.  Shaw, 
Mrs.  Ann  Maria  A.  Shaw? 

"    Lydia  E.  Shaw,         .-, 
Foster  A.  Harlow, 
Rufus  K.  Harlow 
Mrs.  Lurany  Harlow, 
Miss  Elisabeth  S.  Harlow, 

"    Harriet  W.  Burgess, 
Noah  C.  Perkins, 
Mrs.  Mary  Allen  Perkins, 
John  Sidwell, 
Mrs.  Ziplia  Ann  Rich, 
Miss  Eliza  Ann  S.  Morton, 


70 


Mrs.  Maria  Adelina  Davis, 
"    Harriet  N.  Deane. 

Francis  F.  Eaton, 

Mrs.  Augusta  S.  Eaton, 
"    Bulah  Ann  S.  Cole, 

Fanny  D.  Lane, 

Mrs.  Susan  F.  Shaw, 

Miss  Bathsheba  L.  Wilder, 

George  L.  Soule, 

Preston  Soule, 

Amos  Thomas, 

Henry  Dunham, 

Ann  Fitzpatrick, 

Ebenezer  T.  Soule, 

Mrs.  Clarissa  R.  Soule, 
"    Patia  S.  Doane, 


1851. 

Miss  Abigail  Washburn. 

Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Jenney,j 
"    Ann  M.  Oilman, 
"    Louisa  Jane  Dunham, 
"    Betsey  Harlow, 

Joshua  C.  Jenney, 

Ralph  Copeland, 

Mrs.  Nancy  C.  Copeland, 

Miss  Elisabeth  Bryant, 

Mrs.  Lucy  M.  Pickens 
1852. 

Mrs.  A.  N.  Tisdale, 
"    Hannah  Goss, 

Miss  Mary  M.  Southworth, 

Abiel  Wood, 

Mrs.  Matilda  Wood. 


BAPTIST  SOCIETIES  AND  CHURCHES. 

There  are  "  poll  parishes,"  not  such  by  lines,  but  by 
the  vicinity  of  members,  such  as  are  within  convenient 
distances,  for  united,  worship.  The  first  in  all  this 
region,  for  fifty  miles  or  more,  was  formed  in  Titicut 
June  16, 1756,  under  the  influences  of  Rev.  Isaac  Backus, 
its  first  pastor ;  the  second  was  gathered  in  the  west 
precinct,  (Beach  Woods,)  Nov.  16,  1757 ;  the  third  in 
South  Middleborough  August  4,  1761,  and  has  its  mem- 
bers both  in  the  first  precinct  and  North  Rochester 
precinct,  the  lines  of  which  are  near  their  meeting- 
house, called  The  Rock.  The  Central  Baptist  Church  at 
the  Four  Corners,  was  formed  August  13,  1828,  and  has 
its  members  chiefly  within  the  lines  of  the  first  precinct. 
Rev.  Mr.  Medbury  was  its  first  pastor,  ordained  Nov.  12, 
1828,  dismissed  July  5,  1832;  Rev.  Harvey  Fitz  was 
settled  August  1,  1832,  dismissed  May  15.  1836;  Rev. 


71 

E.  Nelson  was  ordained  Dec.  19,  1836,  and  dismissed 
March  16,  1851;  Rev.  J.  Aldrich  settled  April  7,  1851. 
The  meeting-house  was  built  in  1828,  by  Levi  Peirce, 
Esq.,  and  presented  to  the  church. 

OTHER  SOCIETIES  AND  CHURCHES. 

There  are  two  Free  Communion  Baptist  Churches  in 
town.  One  in  "  Beech  Woods"  and  one  near  'Sowampset 
pond,  both  within  the  west  precinct.  There  are  also  in 
town  two  Methodist  churches,  one  in  Fall  Brook  Village, 
and  one  in  South  Middleborough,  at  a  place  called  The 
Spruce.  There  is  also  a  Christian  Baptist  meeting. 
All  the  churches  in  town  have  always  been  in  peace 
with  each  other,  and  rejoice  in  each  others  prosperity. 

THE   FUND. 

The  house  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr.  James 
Sparrow,  was  built  by  Rev.  Sylvanus  Conant,  whose  heirs 
sold  it  with  its  premises  to  the  parish.  Rev.  Mr.  Barker  de- 
sired to  purchase  it  of  the  parish,  and  it  was  sold  to  him, 
and  the  sale  money  was  funded.  Afterwards  the  late  Mr. 
Samuel  Tinkham  devised  his  whole  farm  in  "  the  Little 
Precinct "  to  the  parish,  the  income  of  which  was  to  be 
for  the  support  of  the  minister  for  the  time  being.  This 
was  sold  and  the  proceeds  also  funded.  The  fund  was 
soon  sufficient,  by  its  income,  to  pay  the  salary  of  the 
pastor,  and  was  so  appropriated  until  the  dismissal  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Eaton.  By  a  process,  yet  not  wholly  understood,  and 
by  the  erection  of  a  parsonage,  this  fund  w^as  diminished 
from  $9,000  to  less  than  $3,000,  so  that  the  greater  part 
of  the  salary  is  now  raised  by  subscription. 

Mr.  Tinkham  and  his  wife  were  exemplary  members 
of  the  church.  The  following  is  the  inscription  on  their 
monument  on  "  The  Hill  "  where  they  are  buried  :  — 


72 


"  Erected  by  the  direction  of  the  First  Precinct  in  Middleborough  to  the  me- 
mory of  Mr  Samuel  Tinkham,  who  died  March  28, 1 796,  aged  72  and  four  days. 
When  in  life  he  was  benevolent  to  the  poor,  and  in  his  last  will  gave  all  his  real 
estate  for  the  support  of  the  public  worship  of  God  in  this  precinct.  Patience, 
wid.  of  said  Samuel,  died  Nov.  3,  1814,  aged  92." 

THE    NEW    MEETING-HOUSE. 

The  lot  on  which  it  stands,  (about  four  acres.)  was 
purchased  of  Zenas  Cushman  in  1827,  and  the  House 
was  built  in  1828,  at  an  outlay  of  $12  or  $13,000,  and 
chiefly  paid  by  the  sale  of  the  pews.  Nearly  three 
acres  of  the  land  is  turned  out  in  common.  The  vestry 
was  built  the  year  following.  The  lot  on  which  the 
parsonage  stands  was  purchased  of  Hercules  Cushman, 
in  1832,  when  the  parsonage  was  built.  The  architect 
of  the  new  meeting-house  was  Brother  James  Sproat ;  it 
is  a  monument  of  his  professional  skill,  and  of  his  zeal  for 
the  decent  and  orderly  worship  of  God. 


TABLE  FURNITURE. 

The  first  set  of  communion  ware  used  by  the  church  was  given 
by  them  to  a  Mr.  Scott,  for.  the  use  of  a  Congregationel  church  in 
Nova  Scotia,  of  which  he  was  chosen  pastor,  and  over  which  he  was 
ordained  pastor  in  our  meeting-house,  in  or  about  1780 — a  church 
which  greatly  prospered  under  his  long  and  faithful  ministry.  Ano- 
ther set  was  purchased  by  the  church,  (of  pewter  or  block  tin,) 
which,  when  the  present  meeting-house  was  built,  was  sold  in  sepa- 
rate pieces  to  different  members,  and  with  the  proceeds  and  dona- 
tions of  members,  the  present  set  was  purchased  for  about  $135. 
The  small  silver  cup,  the  gift  of  the  sisters  in  1734,  has  always  been 
set  on  the  table.  A  large  fancy  silver  cup,  presented  by  the  wife 
of  Governor  Bowdoin,  while  he  resided  in  town,  (as  we  are  inform- 
ed,) is  not  now  set  on  the  table,  but  preserved  as  a  keepsake.  The 
following  is  the  inscription  on  the  small  cup : — 

"  GIVEN  BY  THE  SISTERS  OF  THE 
FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST  IN  MIDDLEBOROUGH, 

1734." 


CATALOGUE 


MEMBERS   OF  THE  FIRST  CHURCH, 


MIDDLEBOROUGH,    MASS. 


The  saints  on  earth,  and  all  the  dead, 
But  one  communion  make ; 

All  join  in  Christ,  their  living  head, 
And  of  his  grace  partake. 


INDEX 


TO    THE    NAMES    OF    MEMBERS. 


ALDEN 

32  John 

33  Hannah 

222  David 

223  Judith 
334  Noah 
401  Solomon 
427  John 

617  Elijah 

618  Mary 

619  Elihu 

ALLEN 
65  Mary 
76  Nathaniel 

305  Mary 

326  David 

AMES 

301  Elizabeth 
ANTONY 

315  Else 

AT  WOOD 

720  John 

721  Rhoda 

840  Francis 

841  Shadrack 
962  Mary  R. 

1004  Joanna 
1069  Sarah  A. 
BARDEN 
20  Deborah 
85  Abigail 
88  Stephen  sr. 
170  Abraham  sr. 
181  Mary 

203  Elizabeth 

204  Esther 

229  Abraham,  jr. 
BARKER 

545  Joseph  Rev. 

579  Eunice 

714  AVilliam 

760  Anna 

788  Elizabeth 
BARROWS 
30  Mercy 
59  Samuel 

132  Samuel, jr. 

133  Susanna 
208  Coombs 
248  Fear 
274  Ruth 
552  Ruth 
914  Freeman 

BASSETT 
125  Nathan 
294  Nathan 
302  Thankful 


BATES 

86  Joseph  sr. 
144  Joanna 
310  Joseph  jr. 
474  Mary 

677  Susanna 

678  Joseph 
BENNET 

3  John 

4  Deborah 
147  Samuel  sr. 

179  Nehemiah 

180  Mercy 
207  Mary 

215  Eleanor 

216  Ruth  jr. 
221  Ruth  sr. 
273  Thankful 
238  Bachelor 
763  Mercy 
775  Mercy 
780  Jacob  2d 
794  Rebecca 

BENSON 
477  Samuel 

BENT 
671  Experience 

BILLINGTON 

14  Isaac 

186  Mary 

499  Ichabod 

518  Elenor 

BOOTH 
472  Priscilla 

BOURNE 
563  Abner 
568  Mary 
575  Abigail 

587  Newcomb 

588  Abigail 
607  Lydia 
755  Abigail 

765  Joseph 

766  Sophia 
815  Louisa 
895  Lucy 

BRAND 
1044  Joanna 
BRANNACK 

520  Consider 
BRIGGS 

490  John 

491  Remember 
522  Ebenezer 
6'23  AbigaU 

708  George 

709  Patience 
1034  Mary 


BROWN 

561  Elizabeth 

BUMPAS 

18  Weibra 

111  Mary 

405  Nathaniel 
BUMP 

596  Mercy 
BRYANT 

540  Margaret 

580  Hannah 

6-36  Jesse 

637  Mercy 

816  Hillyard 
1055  Mercy  E. 
BURGESS 

287  Jacob 

782  Temperence 

1041  Cornelius 

1042  Melissa 

BUSS 

842  Martin 

843  Eliza 
CALIMINCO,  463 
CANEDY 

189  Anibal 
432  Elizabeth 
CARVER 

611  Josiah 

612  Jerusha 
CARY 

536  Ichabod 

537  Hannah 
CASWELL 

56  Mary 
171  Daniel 
192  Mary 
277  Ebe 
899  Polly  W. 
1065  Susan  H. 
CAVENDER 
126  Ann 
266  John 

CHAMBERLAIN 

844  Joseph 
CHAMMUCK 

383  Martha 
CLAPP 

138  Ezra 

139  WaitstiU 
362  Elijah 
375  Hope 
437  Manasseh 

CLARKE 
77  Nathan 


CLARKE 

807  Josiah 

808  Blary 

809  Deborah  P. 

845  Elizabeth 
1015  Zilpha 

CLEAVES 
51  Eleanor 

COADE 
774  Hannah 

COBB 

17  John 

22  Jonathan 

23  Hope 
57  Rachel 
70  Lydia 

119  Joanna 
219  Thankful 

236  Ebenezer 

237  Lydia 
272  Gershom 
419  John  jr. 

421  John  sr. 

422  Mary 
434  Patience 
436  Hope 
4.55  Meletiah 

469  Ebenezer 

470  Mary 
418  Abijah 
425  Mercy 

628  Ebenezer 

629  Lydia 

644  Binney 

645  Azubah 
684  Mary 
707  Jacob 
754  Priscilla 

846  Otis  T. 

847  Adeline 
903  Olive  T. 

COLE 

473  Thomas 
COLWELL 

966  Mary  Ann 
COMSTOCK 
1067  Saba  A. 
CONANT 

101  Elizabeth 

46S  Svlvanus,  1 

492  Abigail 
CORNISH 

593  WiUiam 
1056  Louisa 
COX 

o07  Hauuali 


^ 


75 


cox 

398  John  sr. 
410  John  jr. 

430  Hannah 

431  Mary 
CROCKER 

290  L3-dia 
CROSSMAN 

209  Barnabas 

253  Hannah 
CURTIS 

759  Sally 
CUSHMAN 

368  William 

369  Susanna 
445  Ichabod 
497  Deborah 
548  Susanna 
565  Mercy 
741  Sylvia 
930  Susanna 

1012  Adoniram  J. 

1013  Ann  S. 
CUTBARTI 

16  Samuel 
DARLING 
42  Joanna 
149  Thomas 
265  Rebecca 
365  John 
423  Elizabeth 

715  Daniel 

716  Polly 

848  Alanson 

849  Hannah  H. 

850  Aurilla 
DEAN 

964  Eliab 

986  Lydla 

987  Lois 
1047  RuthE. 

DELANO 

89  David  sr. 

168  Meribah 

169  Ann 

438  David  jr. 
DEXTER 
1060  Elijah  Rev. 
DOANE 

1031  Calvin 
DOGGETT 

803  Eliphalet 
DOTY 

615  Isaac 
DREW 
78  John 
99  Sarah 
173  EUzabeth 
DUNHAM 
162  Ephraim 
211  Lemuel 
260  Elizabeth 

288  Joshua 

289  Ketura 
404  Ephraim 
433  Mercy 
983  Henry 

EARLE 

1021  Halford 

1022  Elizabeth 
EASTMAN 

932  Mary  Jane 


EATON 

15  Samuel 
226  Francis 
886  William,  Rev. 
890  Lydia 

EDDY 

60  Malatiah 

61  Samuel 
100  Abigail 
234  Jabez  sr. 

243  Samuel  jr. 

244  Lydia 
263  .Jedidah 

341  Zachariah 

342  Mercy 

450  Jabez  jr. 

451  Patience 
516  Nathan 
535  Samuel 
543  Susanna 

633  Joshua 

634  Lydia 

665  Seth 

666  Jerusha 

681  Silvanus 

682  Nathaniel 

683  Lydia 

718  Zechariah 

719  Sarah 
761  Anna 
797  Atby 

851  Thalia 

852  Anne  Juliet 
898  Lydia 

915  Betsey 

916  Betsey  M. 
944  Joshua 
955  Jane  Ellen 

967  Charles  E. 

968  Eliza 

969  Susan  M. 

970  Ann  Elizabeth 
988  Charlotte  E. 

1009  Lucy  Ann 

1010  Mary  Jane 
1059  Melinda  B. 
1068  Elira  Jane 

EDSON 

853  Charlotte 
ELLIS 

190  Elizabeth 
384  Elizabeth  jr. 
623  Lucia 
677  Deborah 
680  Southworth 

971  Susanna  M. 
984  Lucia  C. 

ELMES 
172  Sarah 
524  Elkanah 
792  Leonard 
804  Eliphalet  jr. 

817  Eliphalet  sr. 

818  Chloe 

854  Lavinia 

855  Louisa 
FAUNCE 

476  Abigail 
FELIX 

324  Thomas  jr. 
FINNEY 

240  Ebenezer 

246  Jane 

354  Nelson 


FINNEY 
586  Sarah 
609  Martha 
657  Margaret 

819  Jane 

FOLEY 
1035  James 
FREEMAN 

486  Bethiah 
676  John 

820  Hannah 
856  Mercy 
893  Mary 
972  Jane 

1061  Virtue  M. 
FULLER 

1  Samuel,  Rev. 

2  Elizabeth 

28  John  sr. 

29  Mercy 
41  Mary 
91  Isaac 

94  Ebenezer 

95  Elizabeth 
97  Hannah 

103  Elizabeth 
146  Silence 
151  Lydia 

155  Mercy 

156  John 
247  Jabez 
276  Mary 
304  Timothy 
370  Mary 
647  Betty 

673  Lucy 

674  Sally 
685  Sophia 
799  Sylvia 

857  Lauretta  Ann 

878  Jabez 

879  Sally 
881  Susan  B. 

1050  Consider 

GIBBS 

167  Elizabeth 
GISBY 

773  William 

928  Thomas 
GODDARD 
1045  Almira 
GRIFFETII 

2.51  Elizabeth 

283  Mary 
GUMEE 

220  Sarah 
HACKET 

48  Elizabeth 

150  Lydia 
HALL 

453  Mercy 
HARLOW 

632  Betsey 

767  Mercy 

769  Hepzibah 

936  David 

989  Stephen  jr. 

990  Jonathan 

991  Sarah 

992  Betsey  B. 

993  Mary  L. 
1029  Bethiah  0. 


HARRINGTON 

966  Lucy 
HARRIS 

420  Seth 

HASKELL 

49  Murv 

594  Abigail 

598  Zebulon 
HASKINS 

973  Jerusha 
HATHAWAY 

331  Mary 
HAYFORD 

225  Mary 

239  Benjamin  sr. 
HILL 

945  Harriet 
HITCHCOCK 

1038  Henry  D. 

1039  Olivia 
HOLMES 

625  'Ihankful 

858  Rufus 

8.59  George  L. 

860  Eunice 
HOWLAND 

382  Joseph 
HUBBARD 

728  Serena 
JACKSON 

278  Joanna 
335  John  jr. 
462  !!^arah 
9U9  Sarah 

JENNY  416 
KIDDER 
687  Sally 

KING 

79  Ichabod 
83  Judith 

279  Mary 
787  Mercy 
925  Nathan 

KNOWLTON 
185  Martha 
188  Thomas 
388  Prudence 

LAWRENCE 
965  Sarah 

LAZELL 
312  Joshua 

LEACH 
316  Abiel 
361  Susanna 
435  Sarah 
.504  John 
505  Betty 
517  Phebe 
704  Susanna 

1048  George  M. 

1049  Betsey  E. 

LEONARD 
66  Charity 
443  Margery 
446  John  sr. 
6(13  Lucy 
686  Betsey 
888  Elizabeth 
951  Sallv 


76 


LEWIS 

26  Elizabeth 
3i  Mary 

285  Shubael 

286  Hazadiah 
381  Elizabeth 

liING 

658  Jane 
LITTLEJOHN 

805  Deliverence 

821  Miriam 
861  Hannah 

1062  Elizabeth 
LOTELL 
31  Mary 
367  John  jr. 

408  Lydia 
413  Thankful 
449  Joseph 
758  Jerusha 

LUCAS 

599  Elijah 

600  Sarah 

822  Job 
LYON 

201  Samuel 

202  Joanna 
228  Bethiah 
293  William 
329  Jedediah 

389  Martha 

390  Sarah 

391  Phebe 
589  Mary 

MACIIAAN 

152  Patience 
McDOWALL 

641  John 

McGLATULIN 

1070  Freeman  T. 

1077  Harriet 

MANSFIELD 

l(i9  Andrew 

110  Sarah 
MAKGAltET  36 
MAXFIELD 

521  Catherine 
MILLER 

157  Lydia 

264  Uaitstill 

409  John  jr. 
560  Sarah 
882  Susanna 

MORSE 

5  Jonathan 

6  Mary 

50  Mary  jr. 

284  Martha 

498  Desire 

549  Isaac 

574  Thankful 

626  Desire 

712  Sage 

889  Lucy  W. 

891  Kuth 
1016  Marston  S. 
1053  Charles  S. 
1082  Mary  M. 
MORTON 
80  Hancah 

127  Mercy 

495  IchaSod 


MORTON 
496  Deborah 
662  Daniel  0. 

789  Ilepzibah 
802  Lendall  P. 

904  Eliza  S. 
910  Hannah  D. 

MUXHAM 
533  Edmund 

NICHOLS 

974  Lucia  Maria 
NORCDTT 

622  Mary 

905  Mary 
NYE 

73  Elizabeth 
OLIVER 

528  Peter  jr. 

531  Sarah 
ORCUTT 

975  Harriett 
ORRINGTON 

954  Mary  Ann 
OSGOOD 

942  Adeline  H. 
PADDOCK 

210  Tchabod 

261  Joanna 

699  Lydia 

798  Julia 
PAINE 

791  Emerson,  Rev. 
PALMER 

21  Thomas,  Rev. 

142  Samuel 

158  Elizabeth 

184  Elizabeth  jr. 

296  Job 
PARKER 

461  Joseph 
PARLOW 

153  Hannah 

448  Hannah 
PERKINS 

749  Lothrop 

750  Mercy 

790  John 

863  Nathan  jr. 
1023  Eunice 
1043  Ann 
PEGGY  303 
PERU  444 
PIERCE 

642  Experience 
PICKENS 

890  Ebenezer 

897  Mary  B. 

943  Caroline  M. 
loas  Abigail  S. 

POMROV 

475  Hannah 

485  Francis  jr. 
POOL 

9ij6  Samuel 

907  Lydia 
POKTER 

620  Mercy 

729  Sibil 

776  Sarah 


POWERS 

500  Stephen 

501  Lydia 
PRATT 

27  Thomas 
191  Hannah 
200  Phebe 
227  Jane 
270  John 
394  Eleazer  sr. 
396  Joanna 
400  Samuel  3d 
407  Hannah  sr. 

440  Samuel  jr. 

441  Jerusha 
466  Elizabeth 
604  Sarah 
610  Margaret 
621  Benaiah 
624  Lucy 
646  Benjamin 
772  Thomas 

823  Lydia 

824  Phebe 
864  Olive 
963  Betsey 
970  William 

1024  Benjamin  F. 

1025  Abby  B. 

1026  Mahala  S. 
1032  Thomas  A. 

PRINCE 
117  Nathan 
12(t  Samuei 
121  Mercy 

128  Mercy 

129  Alice 
PRINCE  314 
PURRINGTON 

256  Hezekiah 

257  Jlercy 
507  Mercy 

PUTNAM 
939  Israel  W.   Rev. 
941  Julia  Ann 
1006  Harriot  O. 
1036  ^V•illiam  F. 
1057  Julia  Maria 
RANSOM 

130  Sarah 
RAYMOND 

62 

87  James 
1C4  John  sr. 
187  Elizabeth 
213  John  jr. 

254  Mercy 

255  Alice 

291  Christiana 
325  Barnabas 
330  Patience 
373  Elizabeth  jr. 
393  Ebenezer 

457  Ttiomas 

458  Mary 

459  Amo.s 

460  Peter 

REDDING 
62  Ebenezer 
123  Jlercy 
245  Bennet 
353  Deborah 
426  John 


REDDING 
439  WilUam 
467  Thomas 

478  Joanna 
494  Thankful 
508  Sarah  jr. 
513  Fear 

597  Luther 

REED 

937  Ruth 
RICHMOND 

58  Ebenezer 
RICKARD 

205  Elkanah 
233  Bethiah 
374  Japheth 

RIDER 

756  Jael 
RIPLEY 

576  Tilson 

688  Hezekiah 

689  Priscilla 
ROBBINS 

1030  Consider 
ROGERS 

108  Sarah 
ROUNSEVILLE 

931  Freelove  Q. 
SAMBO  415 
SAMPSON 
67  Samuel 
193  Obadiah 

206  Mary 
224  Bethiah 
562  Thankful 

732  Samuel 

733  Lydia 

SATERY 

479  Mary 

667  Daniel 

668  Huldah 

1063  Thomas 

1064  Penelope 
1084  Rhoda  J. 

SEARS 

333  David 

399  Phebe 

703  Abiah 
SHAW 

483  Elkanah 

527  Elizabeth 

529  Thomas 

530  Mary 

557  William 

558  Lydia 

572  James 

573  Lois 
648  Isaac 
651  Samuel 
654  Mark 

1076  Lydia 

1078  Francis  M. 

1079  Beujaniin 

1080  Bethiah 

SHORT 

197  Luke  sr. 
SHURTLIFP 

1081  Zilpha 
SIMMONS 

447  Martha 


77 


SMITH 

63  Jonathan 

90  Abigail 
154  Sarah 
161  James 
309  Kachel 
313  Deborah 
318  Jonathan  jr. 
360  Samuel 
392  Sarah 
417  Experience 
564  Susanna 
679  Levi 

690  Jauips 

691  Patience 

865  Lydia 

977  Mahala 
1046  Susanna  B. 
1054  Elizabeth  S. 

SNO^ 
317  Jonathan 

SOULE 

55  Martha 
442  John  jr. 

464  Rebecca 

465  Kachel 
471  Esther 

554  Sarah 

555  Lydia 
664  James  2d 

710  John 

711  Joanna 

866  James 

867  Ruth 
952  Irene 

978  Isaac  3d 

979  Priscilla 

980  Rebecca 
1011  Alfred  B. 

1051  Hannah  W. 

1052  Marcia 

SOUTHU'ORTH 

69  Esther 

135  Kathaniel 
137  Jael 

308  Rebecca 

SPARROW 
643  Rhoda 

734  Josiah 

735  Minerva 

825  Bathsheba 

SPROAT 

136  Experience 
143  Abigail 
292  James 

323  Ebeuezer 
793  James 
827  Lucy 

868  Thomas 
883  Wary 

STANDISH 
194  Ichabod 
198  Phebe 
740  Irene 

826  Josiah  0. 
900  Jane 

STAPLES 
9^9  Simeon 

STROWBRIDGE 

106  William 

107  Margaret 


STURTEVANT 

195  Moses 

196  Klizabeth 
627  Sarah 
731  Abigail 
764  Priscilla 
779  Eunice 
795  Fanny 

SWIFT 
786  Lucy 

828  Josephjr. 

829  Mercy 

830  Lucy  jr. 
THACHER 

35  Peter,  Rey. 

47  Mary 
183  Mary 
262  Peter  jr. 
275  Samuel 
299  Thomas 
306  John 
352  Susanna 
454  Oxenbndge 
THAYER 

321  Abigail 
THOMAS 

43  Mary 

44  David 

45  Susanna 
64  Lydia 

81  Jeremiah  sr. 

96  Elizabeth 

98  Jlary 
105  Elizabeth  jr. 
115  Hannah 
103  Miriam 
218  Susanna 
238  Henry 

249  Abigail 

250  Annah 
258  Noah 
271  Abigail 

281  Mary 

282  Mary 
298  Israel 

322  Mary 
328  Benoni 
S50  Eleazer 

385  Phebe 

386  Sarah 

387  AbigaU 

402  Sarah 

403  Asa 

424  William 

425  Benjamin 
452  Harzillai 
484  Elizabeth 
506  Elizabeth 

509  Lucy      • 

510  Lemuel 
532  Keziah 
544  Daniel 

546  David 

547  ChurchiU 
550  Deborah 
556  Mercy 
566  Thankful 
602  Abigail 
608  Nathan  sr. 
638  Zilpah 

649  Perez 

650  Sarah 
669  Zenas 
070  Mary 

692  William 


THOMAS 

700  Edward 

701  Lydia 

702  Betsey 

736  Jacob 

737  Lucy 

738  Hope 

743  Silvanus 

744  Susanna 
785  Serena 
869  Daniel 

884  Silas 

885  Eleazer 
887  Azel 
892  Phebe 
894  Betsey 

917  Hannah 

918  Seneca 

919  Hope 

920  Eunice 

921  Anna 

922  Lucia  Ann 

923  Uinslow 

924  Huldah 

957  Lothrop  jr. 

958  Louisa  F. 

959  Saba  S. 

960  Mary  Ann 
661  Mary  H. 

1017  Phebe 

1071  Seneca  R. 

1072  Zilpha  B. 

1073  Melinda 

1074  Clarissa  Jane 

THOMPSON 

9  Jacob 

10  Abigail 

134  Mary 

159  Mary 

235  Thomas  sr. 

268  Caleb 

269  Abigail 
376  John 
418  Lydia 
569  Caleb  jr. 
670  Mary 
581  VAiiiiam 
682  Deborah 

583  Isaac 

584  Lucy 
685  Freelove 
640  Otis 

655  Weltha 

656  Lydia 

705  Reuel 

706  Nathaniel 

722  Lydia 

723  Lucy 

724  .Mary 

725  Irene 
730  Ezra 
770  Arad 

871  Marietta  T. 

872  Cordelia 

926  Charles  F. 

927  Fiorantha 
935  Cephas 
981  AnnaT. 

994  Venus 

995  Jane 

996  Benjamin 
1007  Sarah  T. 
1027  Mary  H. 

TILSON 
480  Ann 


TILSON 

515  Silence 

652  Calvin 

653  Joanna 

693  Calvin  jr. 
739  Hannah 
796  Joanna 
873  Judith 

TINKHAM 

11  Ebenezer 

12  Elizabeth 
19  Hester 

24  Patience 

25  Priscilla 
37  Mary 

40  Ephraim  jr. 

46  Ephraim  sr. 

72  Joanna 

74  Mary 

93  Isaac  sr. 
112  Hannah 
145  Mary 
148  Seth 
214  Abijah 
267  Jlary 
a36  Peter  sr. 

337  Samuel  3d. 

338  Susanna 

345  Joseph 

346  John  jr. 

347  Hannah 

348  Priscilla 

349  Patience 

357  Martha 

358  Agnes 

359  Fsther 
897  Hannah 
428  Ebenezer 
482  I.-^aac 
519  Hannah 
526  Sarah 
551  Chloe 

577  Lucy 

578  Ruth 
592  Jeremiah 
595  Hannah 
601  Mary 
614  Elizabeth 
631  Sarah 

660  Squire 

661  Anna 
663  Silas 
771  John 
781  Orin 
806  Susanna 
831  Elizabeth 
901  Barbara 
933'  Betsey 
938  Harvey 
985  Jane 

997  Oliver  G. 
1058  Sarah  Jane 

TISDALE 
605  Jacob 

694  Hannah 

TORRY 

590  Samuel 

591  Mary 
717  Lj  dia 

TOT  MAN 
502  Experience 

TRIBOU 

695  Bathsheba 


78 


TUCKER 

164  Benjamin 

165  Sarah 
327  Woodward 
489  Sarah  jr. 
541  Benjamin  jr. 
635  Samuel 

746  Jedidah 
757  Hannah 
912  Susanna 
933  Mandana 

TUPPER 

176  Ichabod 
259  Thomas 
411  Rebecca 

TURNER 
456  EUzabeth 
616  PrisciUa 

TYNER 
1075  Sarah 

TALLER 

606  Mercy 

VINICA 

998  Rachel 

999  Dorlisca  N. 
1000  Lydia 

VAUGHAN 

38  Joseph 

39  Joanna  sr. 
92  Deborah 

113  John 

114  Jerusha 
131  Joanna 

166  Faithful 
230  Desire 
241  Hinksman 
297  Jabez 

319  John  jr. 

320  Jerusha  jr. 
351  EUsha 

363  Daniel 

364  Joseph 

371  Joanna 

372  Sarah 
395  Mercy 
503  Abraham 
567  Lucy 

1083  Salome 


WARREN 

174  Samuel 

175  Eleanor 
182  PrisciUa 

343  Benjamin 

344  Jedidah 

511  Joseph 

512  Mercy 
659  Keziah 
696  John 

832  James 

833  Margaret 
908  Betsey 

1019  George 
WASHBURN 
539  Huldah 
559  Azel 

810  Abiel 

811  Elizabeth 

812  Abigail 

813  CaroUne 

814  Louisa  Jane 
946  EUzabeth  H. 
982  Eunice 

WESTON 

231  Edmund  sr. 

232  Susanna 
300  Elizabeth 
493  Hannah 
571  PrisciUa 
613  Isaiah 

745  Priscilla  jr. 
762  John 

777  Hannah 

778  Salome 

834  Thomas 

835  Abigail 

836  Abigail  jr. 

837  Bethania 

838  Lavinia 

839  Thomas  jr. 
1066  Thomas  jr. 

WHITE 

160  Benjamin  sr. 

199  Ann 
WILBUR 
1018  Perry  A. 
WILDER 

639  Ebenezer 

726  Mary 


WILDER 

727  Mary 
753  Susanna 

875  James  D. 
1001  BathshebaL. 

WILLIAMS 

339  John 

340  Elizabeth 
481  Thomas 
770  Jabez 

ATILLIAMSON 

412  Fear 
WILLIS 

487  Ebenezer 

488  Mary 
802  Ebenezer 

876  Jane 
940  Sabina 

WING 
874  Betsey  L. 
880  Lura 
902  Lauretta 

WINSLOW 

53  Nathaniel 

54  Elizabeth 
366  Susanna 

WOOD 

7  Abiel 

8  Abijah 
13  Samuel 
68  Ephraim 
71  Rebecca 
75  James 

82  Samuel  jr. 

84  Experience 
102  Sarah 
116  Elnathan 
118  Patience 
122  Mercy 
124  Elizabeth 

140  Timothy 

141  Mary 

177  DaTid 

178  Joanna 
212  Thomas 
217  Jemima 
242  Sarah 
262  Hannah 
280  Sarah 


WOOD 

295  John  jr. 
311  Ephraim  jr. 
3.32  Bathsheba 

355  Ephraim 

356  Edmund 

377  Joanna 

378  Nathaniel 

379  Ichabod 

380  Patience 
400  Samuel 
414  Lydia 
429  Lydia 
542  Elizabeth 
553  Rebecca 
672  Sarah 

697  Lydia 

698  Lucy 
713  Maria 
742  Abigail 

747  Israel 

748  Ichabod 

751  Elizabeth  sr. 

752  Theodate 
768  Betsey 

783  Ichabod  2d 

784  Mary 

800  Elizabeth  jr. 

801  Horatio  G. 
877  Lydia 

911  Lucy  C. 
934  Matilda 

947  AVilkes 

948  Charles  W. 

949  Emily  Louisa 
9,50  Mary  T. 

953  William  H. 

1002  Abigail  T. 

1003  Mercy  L. 
1005  Mary  C. 
1008  Alfred  jr. 
1014  Abiel 
1020  Mary 
1028  Eleanor  B. 
1037  Phebe  H. 

WRI6HTINGT0N 
1040  Hope 

WRIGHT 
534  Cuffee 
630  Anna 


EXPLANATORY   NOTICE. 


The  Descriptive  Catalogue  contains  the  names  of  all  persons  who  have 
been  or  are  members  of  the  First  Church  in  Middleboro',  including  the 
successive  pastors  (p.  32),  so  far  as  records  and  other  documents  which 
the  committee  have  been  able  to  examine  will  show. 

The  half-way  covenant,  which  was  in  practice  from  the  earliest 
records  until  about  1760,  has  in  some  cases  made  it  diflflcult  to  deter- 
mine the  question  of  fuU  membership.  The  existing  church  records 
do  not  give  the  admissions  of  all,  as  is  evident  from  other  proceedings 
of  the  church ;  and  the  absence  of  all  records  (except  the  Fuller  copy 
of  the  organization,  p.  13)  until  1708,  makes  it  almost  certain  that  a 
portion  of  the  admissions  of  that  period  of  thirteen  years  have  not  been 
ascertained.  Much  cai'e  has  been  taken  to  enrol  none  but  members  in 
full  communion ;  and  the  committee  are  not  sure  but  a  few  others,  ex- 
cluded for  want  of  fuller  evidence,  were  not  also  members. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  Catalogue  is  columnar  in  three  respects, 
namely  ; —  the  regular  numbering  of  the  whole  church  ;  the  dates  of 
admission ;  and  the  names  of  the  members,  followed  by  a  particular 
notice  of  each ; —  the  whole  occupying  but  one  line  when  practicable. 
The  order  of  the  particular  notices  is  as  follows  :  — 

1.  A  reference  to  ancestry  or  kindred,  or  both,  by  abbreviations  and 
the  regular  numbers  if  in  the  church,  or  by  the  christian  name  if  not. 

2.  Reference  to  the  wife  or  wives  by  their  regular  numbers  in  par- 
enthesis, if  members,  or  by  their  whole  original  name,  if  not. 

3.  The  year  of  marriage. 

4.  Time  of  death  and  the  age. 

This  order  varies  only  in  the  case  of  married  women,  where  the 
name  of  the  husband,  or  reference  to  his  number,  is  placed  next  after 
her  name,  and  the  reference  to  kindred  after  her  original  surname.  In 
a  few  instances,  where  nothing  else  is  known  of  a  member,  one  or  more 
of  their  children  has  been  entered  in  the  line.  Members  whose  time 
of  admission  is  unknown  have  been  inserted  near  the  time  when  they 
were  found  to  have  been  such. 

The  fourteen  members,  from  Nos.  21  to  34  inclusive,  were  probably 
nearly  all  admitted  during  the  time  of  which  there  are  no  records. 

The  double  dating  of  the  years  before  Sept.  1752,  is  made  to  agree 
with  New  Style,  but  the  day  of  the  month  conforms  to  the  records.  To 
bring  these  to  New  Style,  add  ten  days  to  dates  prior  to  the  year  1700, 
and  eleven  days  to  dates  occurring  between  1700  and  Sept.  2,  1752, 
when  the  New  Style  was  first  established  in  England. 

The  reference  to  kindred  used  in  this  Catalogue  of  church  members 
is  extended  to  the  Addenda  at  the  end ;  and  the  abbreviation  ad.  indi- 
cates such  reference. 


ABBREVIATIONS. 


Ja. 
Fe. 
Mh. 


fa- 

gr.  fa. 

gr.  gr.  Ja. 

mo, 

hr. 

sis. 

s. 

dau, 

chi. 

h. 


Ap. 
Ma. 
Ju. 


MONTHS. 

Jy- 

Au. 
Se. 


Oc. 
No. 
De. 


lONDKED. 


wid. 


Eng. 


Bamst. 

Bridg'r. 

Carv. 

HaVx. 

Plym. 

Plymt. 

Sandw. 

Scitu. 

War'm. 


father 

grandfather 

great  grandfather 

mother 

brother 

sister 

son 

daughter 

child  or  children 

husband 

wife 

widow 

married 

senior 

junior 


COUNTEIES. 

.   England 
Ireland  or  Irish 


TOWNS. 


Barnstable 

Bridgewater 

Carver 

Halifax 

Plymouth 

.   Plymton 

Sandwich 

.     Scituate 

.  Wareham 


CHURCHES. 

C  C  C  Central  Congregational  Church 

of  Middleboro' 
N.  P.     .       North  Parish,  Middleboro' 
W.  P.    .       West  Parish,  Middleboro' 


abt. 
ad. 
ae. 
Aft. 


dismissed  to 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

about 

.    addenda 

age* 

African 

.    baptised 

before 

born 

church 

died 

another  church 

deacon 

.  excluded 

from 

Indian 

original  or  maiden  name 

...        .  page 

re.  removed  from  town,  and  no  record 

of  dismission 

in,  resides   in  the  town  or   State 

specified 

re-ad.  readmitted  to  this  church  after 

dismission  to  another 

i?eu Eeverend 

M.F..       .        .        the  May-Flower 

unc uncertain 

unm unmarried 


bef. 

b. 

chh. 

d. 

dis. 

dea. 

ex. 

fr- 
Ind. 
o. 

P 


re. 


Figures  in  parentheses  thus  (2)  refer  to  the  regular  number  of  the  husband  or 
wife;  when  separated  by  a  comma  thus  (2,  12)  they  indicate  successive  husbands 
or  wives,  and  refer  to  them.  Figures  not  in  parentheses,  and  preceded  by  abbre- 
viations, refer  to  the  ancestors  or  kindred  indicated,  thus  fa.  20  shows  the  father 
may  be  found  at  No.  20.  Eemarks  or  references  in  brackets  apply  to  the  person 
preceding,  and  who  is  not  a  member  of  this  church. 

The  names  of  members  admitted  by  letters  of  recommendation  from  other 
churches  are  followed,  without  the  comma,  by  fr.  and  the  name  of  the  town  or 
place.     Names  of  churches  are  not  usually  given. 

*  Wlien  either  t/i.,  St.,  or  d.  follows  the  figures  for  'the  age,  the  person  is  suposed  to  have 
attained  to  within  six  months  of  the  age  stated  ;  without  these  additions,  the  exact  age  may  exceed 
the  figuiea  eix  months. 


DESCRIPTIVE  CATALOGUE, 


FROM  THE  ORGANIZATION  IN  1695  TO  1853, 


A  careful  attention  to  the  Explanatory  Notice,  p.  79,  and  to  the  table  of  abbrevia- 
tions, including  the  note  respecting  tk.  st.  and  d.,  on  the  opposite  page,  mil  facilitate 
the  understanding  of  this  catalogue. 


1694. 

1 

de.26,o.s. 

2 

«)^ 

3 

a  '"' 

'O  co" 

OJ  g^ 

4 

N 

"3  9, 

=s  ^ 

5 

bcQ 

6 

o 

7 

^  o 

8 

^^ 

•73 

9 

rr.  '^ 

10 

^.2 

11 

>»-r;  __^ 

12 

|o^ 

13 

> 

-l2  '^    • 

14 

o  &- 

15 
16 

;h   o   c» 

17 

^  O  - — - 

18 

19 

^  E£ 

20 

•^^,->i^ 

(  REV.  SAMUEL  FULLER  fr.  Plym.,  ord.  1st  Pastor. 

J  (2)  d.  An.  17,  1693,  M.  7lst.  (p.  6,  32.) 

[  Elizabeth  Fuller,  (1)  o.  Brewster,  d.  at  Plymt.  No.  4,1713. 

"  The  aged  relict  of  Rev.  Samuel." 
{John  Bennet  sr.,  (4)  Dea.  1695,  d.  Mh.  21,  1718,  sa.  76. 
■}  s.  of  Peter,  of  Bristol  Eng.,aiT.  in  Va.  1665;  here,  1692. 

(Deborah  Bennet,   (3)   o.  Grover,  m.  in  Beverley,  1671, 

came  here  in  1692,  d.  Mh.  22,  1718,  ffi.  70. 
j  Jonathan  Morse,  (6?)  d.  Jy.  9,  1709,  03.  70th. 
(  Mary  Morse,  (5),  chi.  50. 

j  Abiel  Wood,  s.of  Henry,  fr.  Eng.,  (8)  d.oc.l0,1719,re.61st. 
I  Abijah  Wood,  (7)  o.Bowen,  m.l683,  d.Ma.21,1746,  a5.83d. 
(  Jacob  Tomson,  s.Jn.  [fr.Eng.l623],(lO)  d.Se.1,'26,  a;  64. 
(Abigail  Tomson,  (9)  m.  1693,  o.  Wadsworth,  dau.  John 

and  Abigail,  d.  Ja.  15,  1745,  x.  74. 

f  Ehenezer  Tinkham  sr.,  s.  of  Eph'm,  fr.  Eng.,  (12)  m.  bef. 
■<  1679,  Dea.  1695,  d.  Ap.  8,  1718,  a\  73d. 

<■  Elizabeth  Tinkham,  (11),  o.  Liscom,  d.  Ap.8, 1718,  ae.64. 
Samuel  Wood  sr.,  br.  7,  (71)  d.  Fe.  3.  1718,  se.  70th. 
Isaac  Billington,  d.  De.  1 1,  1709,  ic.  66th. 
Samuel  Eaton;  4  chi.  b.  fr.  1695,  d.  Mb.  18,  1724,  se.  61st. 
Samuel  Cutbart,  d.  Ap.  17,  1699,  aj.  42. 
John  Cobb  Jr.,  (57),  d.  Oct.  8,  1727,  ie.  68th. 
Weibrah  Bumpas,  w.  Joseph  bef.  1670,  d.  Dec.  27,  1711. 
Hester  Tinkham,  (46),  o.  Wright?  d.  Ma.  28, 1717,  «.  68th. 
Deborah  Barden,  "wid. 


82 


21 

22 
23 
24 
25 

26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 

33 

34 

35 


36 
37 

38 

39 
40 

41 
42 
43 
44 

45 

46 

47 

48 

49 

50 
51 
52 

53 
54 
55 
56 


>->  <v 


1709. 

Nov.  2. 

1710. 

Ja.22. 

Ma.  7. 

"    9. 

Au.  20. 

"    20. 

«  20. 

«  20. 

«  20. 

"  27. 

Se.  9. 
Oc.  28, 

1712, 

De.  7. 

1713 
Fe.  15 

unc. 


Mh.  15, 

"    15, 

Au.  4. 

Oc.  11 


REV.  THOMAS  PALMER,  2clPastor,(158)  m.bef.  1699, 

chi.  142,  184,  296,  d.  Ju.  17,  1743,  x.  78th.  (pp.  6,  .34,) 
(Jonathan  Cobb,  (23),  Dea.  d.  Aug.  15,  1728,  ae.  abt.  68. 
I  Hope  Cobb,  (22),  d.  Jy.  26,  1728,  se.  abt.  76. 
Patience  Tinkham,\v.Eben'r,ji-.,m.'03,o.Pratt,  d.bef.Ju.5,'20. 
Priscilla  Tinkham,  w.  Shubael,  m.  1718,  o.  Childs,  chi.  345, 

348.  d.  Jy.  11,  1739,  re.  45th. 

Elizabeth  Lewis,  wid.  of  James,  d.  Mh.  1744,  se.  90th. 
Thomas  Pratt,  chi.  Abigail,  b.  1701,  Hepzibah,  b.  1705. 

(  John  Fuller  sr.,  fa.  1,  br.  91,  (29),  chi.94.  d.abt.l710,  £e42. 

(  Mercy  Fuller,  (28)  m.  1686  ?  o.  Nelson,  2d  m.  Wm.Eaton. 
Mercy  Barrows,  (59),  o.Coombs,  sis.157,  d.Mh.4,1718,  ai.44. 
Mary  Lovell,  w.  of  John  bef.  1702,  chi.  367,  413,  449. 

(  John  Alden,  s.  of  Joseph  &  gr.s.  of  John  of  the  M.F.,  (33) 
J  m.  bef,  1702,  d.  Se.  29,  1730,  x.  56th. 

/  Hannah  Alden,  (32)  o.  "White,  dau.  Eben'r  of  Weymouth, 

^  d.  Oct.  5.  1732,  ee.  52d. 

Mary  Lewis,  w.  of  Eliezer,  chi.  Keziah  bap.  1713. 

REV.  PETER  THACHER  Jr.,  3d  Pastor,  (47),  chi.  183, 

262,  275,  299, 306, 352,  454,  d.  Ap.  22, 1744,  a\  56th.  (pp.  35,7.) 

Margaret,  (Afr.)  servant  of  Jn.  Alden,  32. 
Mary  Tinkham. 

f  Joseph  Vaughan,  s.  of  Geo.  fr.  Eng.,?  (39)  ra.  1680,  2d  m. 

<  1720,  to  Mercy  Fuller ,wid.ofJabez,o.Wood,d.Mh.2,'34,£e.81st. 

^  Joanna  Vaughan  sr.,  (38),  br.  44,  d.  Ap.  11, 1718,  sd.  61st. 
Ephraim  Tinkham  jr.,  fa.  46,  br.  93,  (447),  m.  1708,  d.  Jy. 

11,  1713,  03.  31st. 
Mary  Fuller,  (91),  m.  bef.  1710,  o.  Eddy,  br.  61. 
Joanna  Darling,  w.  Thomas  sr.,  chi.  Thomas  b.  1704. 
Mary  Thomas,  w.  Jona.,  m.  1703,  o.  Steward ;  4  chi.  bap. 
David  Thomas,  "  abt.  60  yrs.  old,"  s.  David,  sis.  39,  1st  w. 

Abigail  bef.  1669,  (96). 
Susanna  Thomas,  w.  Wm.  2d.,  m.  bef.  1711. 
Ephraim  Tinkham  sr.,  (19)  m.  1 678  ?  d.  Oc.  13, 1714,  aj.66th. 

Mary  Thacher,  (35),  o.Prince,  fa.l20,d,Oc.l,  '71,a5.84.(p.36.) 

Elizabeth  Hacket,  w.  John  bef.  1712,  [Dea.  at  W.  P.]  dis. 

1726  to  W.  P.,  d.  Apr.  17,  1728,  se.  42. 
Mary  Haskell,  w.  John  Jr.,  m.   1699,  o.  Squier,  dis.  1727, 

to  Killingly  Ct. 
Mary  Morse,  mo.  6,  m.  Francis  Moro,  1723. 
Eleanor  Cleaves.     A  gr.  chi.  bap.  1721,  bro't  by  her. 
Mrs.  Raymond,  styled  "goodwiie"  in  1709,  and  with  No's. 

50,  51  and  6,  "yielded  grievances." 
(  Nathaniel  Winslow  fr.  Rochester,  (54). 
(  Elizabeth  Winslow  fi'.  Rochester,  (53). 
Martha  Soul,  w.  Jn.  m.  '01,  o.  Tinkham,  d.  Fe.  16,  '58,  x.  80, 
Mary  Caswell  fr.  Taunton. 


83 


1714. 

57  Mh.  28, 
11715. 

58  Fe.  13, 


59 

60 
61 
62 
63 

64 

65 
66 
67 

68 

69 

70 

71 

72 

73 
74 

75 
76 

77 

7 

79 


20. 

Ma.  20. 
Ju.  12. 
Jy.  10. 
17. 

17. 

Au.  — 

((    

a      

Au.  22. 
Oc.  — 


1716. 

Ma.  27. 
Au.  — 

«    26. 
Oc.  7. 

Nov.  4. 
25. 

25. 
Dec.  2. 


80 

81 

82 

83 

84 
85 
86 

87 


88 
89 
90 


1717. 

Jan.   2, 
1718. 

Ma.    4 


June  1. 
Jy.  20. 

Au.  10. 
"  10. 
"    10. 

1719 

Mh.l9. 
June  9, 
No.  15. 


Rachel  Cobb,  (17),  m.  1688,  o.  Soul,  d.  Se.  18, 1727,  ic.  65th. 

Ebenezer  Richmond,  m.  bef.  1701,  Re.  to  W.  P. 

Samuel  Barrows,  (30),  1st  m.  bef.  1702  ;  2d  w.  Joanna,  Z)ea. 

1725,  d.  De.  30,  1755,  ve.  83d. 

(Melatiah  Eddy,  (61)  m.  1703,  o.  Pratt,  d.  1769,  se.  92. 

I  Samuel  Eddy  sr.,  s.  of  Obadiah,  sis.  41,  (GO),  d.r752,  se.  77. 

Ebenezer  Redding,  (123,  131),  d.  May  5,  1751,  a>,.  ab't  72. 

Jonathan  Smith,  m.  Susanna  Thomas  1713,  (154),  chi.  318, 

360,  d.  Se.  6,  1767,  ie.  79th. 
Lydia  Thomas,  (81)  m.  1684,  o.  Howland,  dau.  Isaac,  sis.  595, 

d.  Jy.  6,  1717,  iE.  52d.  1st  burial  in  The  Green  Cemetery. 
Mary  Allen,  (76)  m.  bef.  1708  in  Bridgwater. 
Charity  Leonard,  wid. ;  m.  J.  Perkins  of  Norwich  1722. 
Samuel  Sampson,  d.  Sep.  10,  1744,  se.  75th.  [w.  Mercy,  o. 

Eddy,  br.  61,  d.  1743,  x.  77th.] 
Ephraim  Wood,  fa.  13,  br.  82,  m.   Susanna  bef.  1710,  (2d 

w.  118),  Dea.  1725,  d.  Jy.  9,  1744,  £e.  65th.  (p.  53.) 
Esther  Southworth,  w.  of  Ichabod  bef.  1713.  [lie  d.  Se.  13, 

1757,  ce.  79th.] 
Lydia  Cobb. 

Rebecca  Wood,  (13)  m.  bef.  1079,  d.  Fe.  10, 1718,  £e.  67th. 
Joanna  Tinkham,  wid.  Jeremiah  Jr.  bef.  1711,  [his  fa.  11.] 

2d.  m.  1720,  (ad.  31.) 
Elizabeth  Nye,  w.  Ichabod  bef.  1713  ;  chi.  Sam'l  b.  1715. 
Mary  Tinkham ;  m.  Henry  Wood  1717  ;  chi.  Moses,  &c. 
James  Wood,  br  ?  7.  (84?);  chi.  bap.,  Benj.,  Barna.,  Abel,  Ich. 
Nathaniel  Allen,  s.  of  Sam'l  of  Bridg'r,  (05),  1st  w.  Bethiah 

Conant,  m.  1696;  chi.  228,  305,  326. 

Nathan  Clark,  m.  Jemima ;  chi.  Ichabod  b.  1716. 

John  Drew  sr.,  (99),  chi.,  ad.  32,  33 ;  dis.  1734  to  Hal'x. 
Ichabod  King  fr.  Scitu.,  2d  m.  1716,  (83),  1st  w.  Hannah, 

[d.  1716,  a;.  36  yrs.]  dis.  1733  to  Rochester. 

Hannah  Morton,  dau.  Jn.,  sis.  131,  134,  (125?). 

Jeremiah  Thomas  sr.,  (64,  98),  d.  Fe.  2,  1736,  se..  77th. 
Samnel  Wood  Jr.,  fa.  13,  br.  68,  (124,  242),  Dea.  1737,  b. 

1684,  d.  bef.  1754. 
Judith  King,  (79),  wid.  Gibbs  bef.,  dis.  1733  to  Rochester. 
Experience  Wood,  (75?)  o.  Fuller,  fa.  1,  brs.  28,  91. 
Abigail  Barden,  (88),  chi.  Sarah  b.  1695,  Abigail,  &c. 
Joseph  Bates,  (144,  474),  2dm.l743,  d.Au.3 1,1778,  a\86th. 
James  Raymond,  m.  Mercy  Tinkham,  1716,  2d  w.  (187),  dis. 

1753,  with  w.  and  dau.  373,  to  Pomfret,  Conn. 

Stephen  Barden  sr.,  (85),  chi.  AVm.  b.  1697,  &,c.  (ex.1727.) 

David  Delano  sr.,  m.  1700  Elizabeth  Eddy. 

Abigail  Smith,  m.  Eb.  Dunham '19,  dis.  bef.  1731  to  Plvm. 


84 


91 
92 


93 

-94 

95 

96 
97 

98 

99 

100 

101 

102 
103 

104 
105 

106 

107 

108 

109 
110 
111 
112 
113 
114 
115 
IIG 

117 
118 
119 

120 

121 

122 


1720, 

Mh.    6 
Dec.  4 

1721, 

Mh.  12 

"    12 
"    12 


u 

12 

Ma. 

14 

(( 

14 

Oc. 

15 

1722. 

Mh 

11 

Api 

•.  8 

(( 

16 

a 

29 

a 

29 

Ju. 

14 

Sept.  9, 


Oc.  17. 

1723. 

July  1. 

"       1. 

«      1. 

"      1. 

«      1. 

"      1. 

"    21. 
De.  15. 

1724. 

Mh.  — 
May  3. 
Ju.  30. 

Oc.  25. 

25. 

Nov.  8. 


Isaac  Fuller,  fa.  1,  (41),  chi.  Isaac  b.  1712.  d.  1727,  a?.abt.50. 
Deborah  Vaughan,  (297),  m.  1711,  o.  Bennet,  fa.  3,  br.  147, 
d.  Ap.  26,  1761,  ffi.  79th. 

Isaac  Tinkham  sr.,  fa.  46,  br.  40,  595,  ad.  60,  (214),  dis.  1734 

to  Hal'x ;  Deacon  in  HaVx.  d.  Ap.  7,  1750,  aj.  65th. 
(  Ebenezer  Fuller,  fa.  28,  br.  156,  sis.151,  (95),  m.bef.l716. 
J  copyist,(pp.l3,14),  he  &  w.  dis.  '34  to  Hal'x.,  d.'85?  aj  98th. 

I  Elizabeth  Fuller,  (94),  o.  Short,  b.  1693  in  Weymouth, 

dau.  of  Luke  jr.,  gr.  fa.  197. 
Elizabeth  Thomas  sr.  fr.  Plymt.  (44),  m.  1718,  o.  Canedy. 
Hannah  Fuller,  (156),  o.  Thomas,  dis.  1734  to  Halifax. 
Mary  Thomas  fr.  Taunton,  (81)  m.  1720,  bef.,  wid.  Durfee, 

d.  Nov.  15,  1749,  ffi.  85th. 
Sarah  Drew,  (78),  chi.  Abigail  b.  1721,  dis.  1734  to  Hal'x. 

Abigail  Eddy,  w.  Benj'n,  [br.  61,  234]  m.  bef.  1717;  2d  m. 

1747  to  Elisha  Hayward.  3d  m.  1752.  (161). 
Elizabeth  Conant,  w.  Josiah,  m.  1701,  o.  Washburn. 
Sarah  Wood,  w.  John  sr.,  chi.  Stephen  b.  1712,  David,  &c. 
Elizabeth  Fuller,  gr.  fa.  or  fa.  1,  m.  John  Eaton  1729,  dis. 

1731  to  Kingston. 
John  Raymond  sr.,  "  in  74th  yr.";  d.  Ju.  5.  1725,  a?.  77th. 
Elizabeth  Thomas,  fa.  8 1,  sis.  219,242,  m.  John  Tomson  '23. 
dis.  1734  to  Hal'x.  d.  Aug.  1776,  a;.  86th. 
r  William  Strowbridge  fr.  Donaugh  Ir.   (107),  Re.  1725 
\  to  W.  P.,  dNo.  14,  1777,  ffi.  87, 

I  Margaret  Strowbridge  fr.  Donaugh  Ir.,  (106),  dis.  1726 
^  to  W.  P.,  d.  De.  8,  1776,  a;.  83. 

Sarah  Rogers  ;  probably  m.  Samuel  Ford  in  Marshfield. 

J  Andrew  Mansfield  fr.  1st  ch.  in  Lynn,  (110). 

(  Sarah  Mansfield  fr.  1st  ch.  in  Lynn,  (109). 
Mary  Bumpas,  w.  Joseph,[b.l674.]m.  bef.  1713.[fa.d.l705.] 
Hannah  Tinkbara  fr.  Scitu.,  (176),  d.  Ap.  13, 1771,  03.  91st. 

(John  Vaughan,  fa.38,  (114),m.l718,  d.Ma.8,1770,  se.78th. 

(Jei'usha  Vaughan,  (113),  0.  Wood,  fa.  7,  b.  1695,  d.,  aj.  90? 
Hannah  Thomas,  (ad.23.)  m.  1721 ,  o.  Turner,  chi.,2  s.,  7  dau. 
Elnathan  Wood,  fa.  7,  m.  Mary  Billington  1712,  2d.  w. 
1735  (380),  d.  Ap.  20,  1752,  x.  66. 

Nathan  Prince,  fa.  120,  sis.  128,  d.Jy.25,  '48,  {b.50.  (p.57.) 
Patience  Wood,  (68),  m.  bef.  1724,  chi.  332,  &  Manassah. 
Joanna  Cobb,  "  on  her  bed  at  her  house,"  (421 ),  m.  bef  1714, 
o.  Thomas,  dau.  Wm.  sr.,br.  ad.  23,  d.  No.  1 1 , 1 724,  x.  32d. 
[  Samuel  Prince  Esq.  fr.  Sandwich,  (2d  w.  121),  d.  Jy.  3, 
^  1728,  Si.  80,  (p.  56.) 

I  Mercy  Prince  fr.  Sandw.  (120),  dau.  Gov.  Hinckley,  m. 
bef.  1687,  d.  Ap.  25,  1736,  x.  73.  chi.  47,  117,  128,  129. 
Mercy  Wood,  w.  of  Abiel  Jr.,  o.  Hacket,  m.  1718. 


85 


123 

124 
125 
126 
127 

128 
129 


130 
131 


132 

133 
134 

135 


136 


137 

138 
139 
140 

141 
142 

143 


144 
145 

146 

147 

148 
149 
150 
151 

152 

153 


1724 

No.  29 

1725 

Ma.  30 
Jy.  4. 

«    29, 
"    29. 

Se.  5. 


"      5, 
Oc.    3, 

1726. 

Ma.   1, 

"      1. 
Jy.  17. 

No.  27. 

1727. 

Jan.  8. 


Mercy  Redding,  (62)  m.  1706,  o.Miller,  d.  Mh.31,  '28,aB.43d. 

Elizabeth  Wood,  (82)  m.  bef.  1717,  chi.  Joshua,  Ann,  &c. 
Nathan  Bassett  fr.  Sand'h,  (80?) ;  Dea.  in  Mr.  Weld's  chh. 
Ann  Cavender,  (266)  m.  bef.  1731,  chi.  Catharine,  b.  1731. 
Mercy  Morton,  (ad.  58),  m.  bef.  1722,  o.  Foster,  d.  Ap.  4, 

1782,  St.  84th.  (p.  57). 

Mercy  Prince,  fa.  120,  sis.  47,  129,  d.  Au.  9, 1748,  ae.  48th. 
Alice  Prince,  fa.  120,  sis.  128,  m.  Samuel  Gray  of  Harwich, 

d.  July  4,  1733,  as.  31st.  (p.  57.) 
Sarah  Ransom,  w.  Robert ;  chi.  Wm.,  Robert,  &c.  bap.  '29. 
Joanna  Vaughan,  wid.  Elisha,  o.  Morton,  sis.  80.  2d  m.  (62). 

Samuel  Barrows  Jr.,  fa.  59,  br.  208,  (133).    He  &  w.  dis. 

1740  to  Killingly  Ct. ;  6  sons  and  2  daughters. 
Susannah  Barrows,  (132),  chi.fr.l724,  Sarah,Geo,Sam.&c. 
Mary  Tomson,  (235),  m.  1715,  o.  Morton,  dau.  John,  sis.  80, 

dis.  1734  to  Hal'x,  d.  Mh.  20,  1781,  ae.  91st. 
Nathaniel    Southworth,   (137),  m.   bef.  1710,   d.  Ap.  8, 
1757,  aj.  72. 


Experience  Sproat,  "  wid.  of  Lt.  Ebenezer  who  with  her  was 
propounded  in  .July  last."    [He  d.  Sep.  28,  1 726,  a.  52d.] 
"  I  was,  (says  Mr.  Thacher,)  by  an  illness  of  11  weeks, 
disenabled  to  proceed  with  them."     Her  2d,  m.  1731  to 
Francis  Miller,  d.  JSlov.  19,  1758,  £e.  74th. 
Ja.  22.  Jael  Southworth,  (135),  o.  Bennet,  d.  No.  9,  1745,  ae.  67th. 
22.  (  Ezra  Clap  fr.  Milton,  (139).  d.  Se.  20,  1761,  aj.  68th. 
22.  \  WaitstiU  Clapfr.MUton.(138),o.Tucker,d.Jy.31,'68a5.73d. 
Jy.  30.  (  Timothy  Wood,  fa.  7,  (141).    Both  dis.  1734  to  Hal'x.  d. 

]  Au.  22,  1756,  03.  63. 

"    30.  (  Mary  Wood,  (140)  m.  bef.  1726,  d.  May  12,  1756,  je. 

De.  —  Samuel  Palmer,  fa.  21,  mo.  158,  sis.  184,  br.  296,  dis.  1731 
as  Pastor  at  Falmouth,  Mass. 

De.  —  Abigail  Sproat,  mo?  136,  m.  Rev.  John  Wadsworth,  of  Can- 
terbury, Ct.,  1729,  d.  1778,  te.  71.  (pp.  35,  54.) 

1728. 

Ja.  28.  Joanna  Bates,  (86)  m.  '17,  o.  Tinkham,  d.  Ju.28,1738,  «.42d. 

28.  Mary  Tinkham,  (148)  m.  bef.  1726,  d.  Ju.  16, 1745,  a3.  43d. 

28.  Silence  Fuller,  w.  of  Samuel,  m.  1726,  o.  Short,  b.  1704, 
dau.  of  Luke  jr.,  gr.  fa.  197. 
Mh.lO.  Samuel  Bennet  sr.,  fa.  3,  sis.  92,  (221)  chi.  Samuel,  b.  1710. 

10.  Seth  Tinkham,  s.  Peter  &  Mercy,(145),d.Fe.9,1751, 8e.47th. 

10.  Thomas  Darling,  mo.  42,br.365,  (265),d.No.2.1792,iE.88th. 

10.  Lydia  Hackett,  w.  Geo.  m.  1724,  o.  Thomas,  b.  1694.  fa.  81.  i 

10.  Lydia  Fuller,  fa.  28,  (226)  m.  1733. 

17.  Patience  Mechaan,  wid.  of  Duncan,  dau.  291,  bap. 

24.  Hannah  Parlow,  wid.  of  Thomas,  m.  1722,  o.  King.;  2d  m. 
1740  (161),  d.  Ap.  .5,  1750,  se.  48. 


86 


1728. 

154 

Ma.  12. 

155 

"  12. 

156 

June  6. 

157 

Jy.  14. 

158 

"  14. 

159 

Oc.  13. 

160 

No.  17. 

161 

"  17. 

1729. 

162 

Mh.24. 

163 

«  24. 

164 

«  24. 

165 

«  24. 

166 

Apr.  6. 

167 

"  6. 

168 

«   6. 

169 

«   6. 

170 

«  20. 

171 

"  20. 

/  172 

«  27. 

173 

«  27. 

174 

July  6. 

175 

"   6. 

176 

«  6. 

177 

"   6. 

178 

"   6. 

179 

«   6. 

180 

«   6. 

181 

Au.  10. 

182 

«  10, 

183 

«  10. 

1730. 

184 

Ja.  18 

185 

"  18 

186 

"  18 

187 

Jy.  19 

188 

"  19 

189 

Aug.  7 

Sarah  Smith,  (63)  m,  '25,  o.  Churchill,  d.  Ju.  5, 1744,  a;.  48. 
Mercy  Fuller,  m.  —  Ford, "  dis.  1761  to  chh.  in  Paquague." 
John  Fuller,  fa.  28,  (97,  244),  1st  m.  1719,  dis.   1734  to 

Hal'x.  d.  1766,  ae.  74. 
Lydia  Miller,  w.  John,  m,  1702,  o.  Coombs,  dau.  Francis, 

[who  d.  1683.]  d.  Mh.  6,  1735,  x.  56th. 
ElizabethPalmer,  (21)  d.  Ap.  17,  1740,  ge.  64th. 
Mary  Tomson,  fa.  9,  br.  268,  sis.  180.  ra.  Eeuben  Tomson, 

dis.  1734  to  Hal'x.  d.  Jy.  19,  1769,  x.  58. 
Benjamin  White  sr.  Esq.,  (199),  d.  De.  10,  1750,  te.  67th. 
James  Smith,  (153)  2d  m.'52  (100),d.Se.9,'63,£e.72d  (p.23.) 

Ephraim  Dunham,  m.  Annas  Smith  1725,  s.  Jona.  b.  1726. 
Miriam  Thomas,  w.  Jer'h,  jr.,  o.  Thomas,  d.Ja.lO,  '68,  £e.73d. 

(  Benjamin  Tucker,  (165)  Bea.  1745,  d.  Jy.  9,  '81,  a^.  76th. 

I  Sarah  Tucker,  (164)  o.  Woodward,  d.  Mh.  13,  '79,  £e.67th. 
Faithful  Vaughan,  (ad.  34),  m.  1720  ?  d.  Ap.  5,  '53,  se.  66th. 
Elizabeth  Gibbs.  chi.  Jabez,  bap. 

Meriba  Delano,  b.  1709,  dau.  Nathan,  m.  C.  Dexter,  1731. 
Ann  Delano,  sis.  168  probably. 
Abraham  Barden  sr.,  (181),  chi.  229,  Joseph,  Isaac. 
Daniel  Caswell,  (192),  chi.  Mary,  Deborah,  Jael ;  bap. 
Sarah  Elmes,  w.  Ignatius,  m.  1728,  o.  Bennet,  dau.  Eben'r. 

gr.fa.  StcTTy.  1789,  a?.  82. 
Elizabeth  Drew,  dis.  1734  to  Hal'x.,  d.  No.  14, 1779. 

(  Samuel  Warren,  (175)  m.  1704.  chi.  182,  Samuel,  James. 

1  Eleanor  Warren,  (174),  o.  Billington.  chi.  Nathan,  &c. 
Ichabod  Tupper,  (112  ?)  m.  1729. 

(  David  Wood,  s.  David,  (178)  m.  1720,  d.  Jy.  29,  '38,£e.50. 

( Joanna  Wood,  (177)  o.  Tilson,  chi.  Edmund,  David,  &c. 

f  Nehemiah  Bennet,  s.  John  jr.,  gr.  fa.  3,  (180)  m.  1721,  d. 


190 


Au.  15,  1769,  X.  74th. 


No.  22, 


!  Mercy  Bennet,  (179)  o.  Tomson,  fa.  9,  d.  Se.  4, 1799,  se.  99 

I  yrs.  10  mo.  11  days.  (p.  58.) 

Mary  Barden,  (170)  m.  bef.  1698,  chi.  Mary,  203.  Sarah. 
Priscilla  Warren,  b.  De.  12,  1704,  fa.  174,  br.  343,  511. 
Mary  Thacher,  b.  1711,  fa.  35,  m.  Rev.  Nathan  Stone,  1751, 
dis.  1753  to  Southboro'.  (p.  36.) 

Ehzabeth  Palmer,  b.  1704,  fa.  21,  m.  Eben'r  Cheney,  d.  bef. 

1780.  Their  dau.  Mary  m.  Jn.  Morey  &  d.  here,  1821.     ' 
Martha  Knowlton,  (188),  1st  chi.  at  Ipswich,  b.  1712. 
Mary  Billington,  w.  Isaac,  [His  fa.l4.]  m.  1730,  o.  Dunham, 

d.  Ju.  24,  1777,  X.  72d. 
Ehzabeth  Raymond,  (87)  bef.  1724,  dis.  1753  to  Ct. 
Thomas  Knowlton,  (185)  d.  Ju.  22,  1755,  vd.  69th. 
Anibal  Canedy,  chi.  Hopestill  &  Sarah  bap.;  2d  m.  bef.  1739 

to Paine. 

Elizabeth  Ellis,  (ad.  53),  m.  1715  ?  d.  Ap.  3,  1753,  ss.  66th. 


87 


191 

1731 

Ma.  23 

192 

Ju.  20 

193 

«  20 

194 

Aug.  8 

195 

'      8 

196 

«   8 

197 

Se.  23 

198 

Oc.  10 

199 

«  10 

200 

«  10 

1732. 

201 

Ja.  23 

202 

"  23. 

203 

Apr.  1. 

1733. 

204 

Mh.l9. 

205 

Ap,  29. 

206 

«  29. 

207 

"  29. 

208 

unc. 

209 

(( 

210 

It 

211 

ii 

212 

a 

213 

(I 

214 

a 

215 

July  1. 

216 

"   1. 

217 

"   1. 

218 

"   1. 

219 

"   1. 

220 

«   1. 

221 

Aug.  5. 

222 

"   5. 

223 

"   5. 

224 

«   5. 

225 

«   5. 

226 

Se.  30. 

1734. 

227 

Mh.l7. 

228 

Ap.  28. 

Hannah  Pratt  jr.,  w.  Eleazer  jr.,  o.  Short,  dau.  Luke  jr.,  gr. 

fa.  197,  d.  Se.  4,  179.3,  x.  82. 
Mary  Caswell,  (171)  m.  bef.  1732. 

Obadiah  Sampson  fr.  Marshfield,  fa.  67,  (206),  chi.  fr.  1737. 
Ichabod  Standish,  (j98),  dis.  1734  to  Hal'x,  d.  Fe.  29,1772. 
(  Moses  Sturtevant  fr.  Plymt.,  (196),  s.  Consider,  b.  1733. 
i  Elizabeth  Sturtevant  fr.  Plymt.,  (195)  s.  Jos.  b.  1734. 
Luke  Short  sr.,  chi.  Luke.  here.  d.  1746,  se.  116,  (p.  59). 
Phebe  Standish  fr.  Plymt.,   (194)  m.   1719,  o.  King,   dis. 

1734  to  Hal'x. 
Ann  White,  (160),  m.  bef.  1727,  d.  Se.  13,  1778,  aj.  81st. 
Phebe  Pratt,  w.  Benaiah  bef.  1737,  d.  Mh.  5,  1800,  te.  88. 

{  Samuel  Lyon,  (202),  chi.  329,  d.  Fe.  22,  1756,  je.  76th. 
(  Joanna  Lyon,  (201),  o.  Bates  ?     No  chi.  recorded  here. 
Elizabeth  Barden,  mo.  181.,  b.  Oc.  1,  1702.  m.  Sampson? 

Esther  Barden,  (229),  m.  '26,  o.  Sampson,  fa.  67,  dis.  '37, 
Elkanah  Rickard,  1st  w.  Ketura  bef.  1730  ;  chi.  Nath'l,  '30, 

Elkanah  1732,  (2d  w.  233),  re.  to  Bridgewater. 
Mary  Sampson,  (193)  m.  1731,  o.  Soul,  d.  1743. 
Mary  Bennet,  w.  Isaac,  m.  1732,  o.  Drew;  4  sons  &  2  daus. 
Coombs  Barrows,  fa.  59,  m.  '29  &  '32,  d.  No.  30,  '75,  se.  71st. 
Barnabas  Crossman,  (253)  m.  bef.  1729 ;  5  sons  &  2  daus. ; 

d.  Oc.  1,  1744,  IE.  44th. 

Ichabod  Paddock,  (261),  m.  bef  '23,  d.  Au.26,  '50,  se.  64th. 
Lemuel  Donham,  (260),  m.  1735  ;  6  sons&  3  dau's. 
Thomas  Wood,  fa.  7,  m.  Hannah  Alden,  1729.  [Her  fa.  32.] 

d.  Ja.  27, 1745,  x.  42d. 
John  Eaymond  jr.,  fa.  104,  1st.  m,  bef.  1703,  2d  m.  1726. 
Abijah  Tinkham,  (93),  o.  Wood,  fa.  7,  dis.  1734  to  Hal'x. 

d.  De.  25,  1777,  k.  88th. 
Eleaner  Bennet,  b.  1711,  fa.  147,  sis.  216,  m.  Z.  Whitman, 

of  Bridg'r,  1733,  d.  No.  10,  1777,  oe.  66. 
Ruth  Bennet  jr.,  b.  1714,  fa.  147,  m.  Jona.  Snow,  1746. 
Jemima  Wood,  b.  1712,  fa.  116,  br.  355,  sis.  263,  414. 
Susanna  Thomas. 
Thankful  Cobb,  w.  James,  m.  1718,  o.  Thomas,  fa.  81,  sis. 

242,  105,  d.  Ap.  17,  1743,  x.  48th. 
Sarah  Gumee  ;  or  Gurnee ;  perhaps  Gurney. 
Ruth  Bennet  sr.,  (147)  m.  bef  1710,  o.  Perry  ;  chi.  215,  216. 

5  David  Alden,  fa.32,  (223)  m.be£1728,  d.Au.24,1763,  {e.61. 

i  Judith  Alden,  (222)  o.  Paddleford,  d.  1802,  se.  94th. 
Bethiah  Sampson,  (ad.  44)  m.  1727,  o.  Clark. 
Mary  Hayford,  (239)  m.  bef.  1728. 
Francis  Eaton,  (ad.  38)  m.  1727,  2d  w.  (151). 

Jane  Pratt. 

Bethiah  Lyon,  w.  Eleazer,  m.  1732,  o.  Allen,  b.  1708,  fa.  76. 


88 


229 

230 
231 
232 

233 
234 


235 


1734. 

Ju.  10. 

Au.  11, 
11, 
11, 

Se.  29, 
29, 

Oc.  10, 


236 

«  10 

237 

"  10 

238 

«  10 

239 

«  10 

240 

Nov.  3 

241 

«  21 

1735. 

242 

Ap.20 

243 

Ju.  12 

244 

"  12 

245 

«  12 

246 

Se.  28 

1736 

247 

Ja.  11 

248 

Ap.  11 

249 

Ju.  13 

250 

«  13 

251 

«  13 

252 

July  — 

253 

i(     

254 

u   

255 

((   

256 

il      

257 

«   

258 

«   

259 

Se.  - 

260 

"  - 

Abraham  Barden  jr.,  b.  1698,  (204),  1st  m.  Priscilla  Alden 

1722,  dis.  to  Stafford,  Ct.  1737. 
Desire  Vaughan,  (241)  m.  bef.  1733,  d.  Se.  10, '84,  se.  89th, 
(  Edmund  Weston  sr.fr.Plyrat.,(232,300),d.Ap.29,  '73,a5.76. 
<  Susanna  "Weston  fr.  Plymt.,  (231)  m.  bef.  1723,  o.  Jackson, 
(  d.  No.  4  1734,  X.  28th. 

Bethiah  Rickard,  (205)  m.  1733,  o.  Conant,  dau.  Nath'l. 
Jabez  Eddy  sr.  fr.  Carv.,*br.  61,  chi.  450,  Moses  263.  "dis. 

Se.  6.  1749  to  unite  with  members  of  Rev.  Mr.  Shaw's 

chh.  at  Titicut." 
Thomas  Tomson  sr.,  s.  John  fr.  Eng.,  br.  9,  (134),  dis.  '34 

to  Hal'x.  d.  Oc.  26,  1742,  x.  78. 
{  Ebenezer  Cobb,  (237),  dis.  1734  to  Hal'x. 
I  Lydia  Cobb,  (236),  m.  bef.  1731,  dis.  1734  to  Hal'x. 
Henry  Thomas,  m.  Ruth  Nelson  1726,  chi.  452. 
Benjamin  Heyford  Sr.,  (225),  sons  Benjamin,  John,  Jacob. 
Ebenezer  Finnea  fr.  Norton,  (246),  Dea.  1737,  d.  Sept.  21, 

1745,36.  47th. 
Hinksman  Vaughan,  b.  1708,  mo.  131,  (230).    3  sisters  b. 

July  1,  1711 ;  also  3  sons  b.  June  1,  1735. 

Sarah  Wood,  (82)  m.  '30,  1st  h.  Isaac  Howland,  o.  Thomas, 

sis.  105,  219.  d.  Ap.3,  1756,  ic.  68. 
(  Samuel  Eddy  jr.,  fa.  61,  (244)  m.  '33,  d.  '46,  se.  36.  (p.  58.) 
]  Lydia  Eddy,  (243)  o.  Alden,  fa.  32,  br.  334,  223,  sis.  271, 
C  (2d  h.  156,)  d.  Mh.  1,  1803.  ec.  92. 

Bennet  Redding,  (439)  m.  1734,  o.  Eddy,  fa.  61,  br.  243, 

341,  sis.  412.     d.  Jy.  15,  1797;  ffi.  831 
Jane  Finnea  fr.  Norton,  (240) ;  chi.  354,  Lewis,  &c. 

Jabez  Fuller,  b.  1717,  s.  Jona.  m.  Hannah  Pratt  1744,  gr. 

fa.  1 ;  Re.  to  Medfield ;  himself  &  3   chi.  Tho.,  Jabez  & 

Jona.,  Physicians. 
Fear  Barrows,  (ad  57)  m.'36,  o.Thomas,d.No.2,'61,JB.40th. 
Abigail  Thomas,  w.  Edward  jr.,  m.  1720,  o.  Parlow,  d.  Oct. 

13,  1756,  se.  62d. 
Anna  Thomas,  w.  Eben'r,  m.l731,  o.  Ransom,  d.  1763,ae.52d. 
Elizabeth  Griffith,  w.  Jesse,  m.  1723,  o.  Bent;  dis.  1742  to 

Plymt,  d.  1743,  se.  37? 
Hannah  Wood,  2d.  w.  John  sr.,  m.  1731,  o.  Chiles. 
Hannah  Crossman,  (209)  m.  bef.  1729. 
Mercy  Raymond,  (393)  m.  bef.  1732. 
Alice  Raymond,  (325)  m.  1729,  o.  Bent,  dau.  Experience? 
j  Hezekiah  Purringlon,  (257) ;  chi.  Joshua,  Sam'l,  Jn. 
(  Mercy  Purrington,  (256)  m.  1735,  o.  Bates,  b.  '19,  fa.  86. 
Noah  Thomas,  s.  Edw'd  sr.,br.608,  (281)  d.De.20,  '58,  fe.49. 
Thomas  Tupper,  (411)  m.  1735,  re.  to  Munson,  Ms.  1797? 
Elizabeth  Donham,  (211),  o.  Tinkham,  br.  337,  sis.  357, 

433,  d.  35.  63. 


Then  and  until  1792  called  "  The  second  Church  in  Plymton." 


89 


261 
262 

263 

264 
265 

266 

267 

268 
26'J 

270 

271 

272 

273 

274 

275 


1736.1 

Oc.  21.|joanna  Paddock,  (210),  o.  Faunce,  d.  May  4,  1758,  se,  68. 

(p.  59.) 


1737. 

Ap.  24. 

Jy.  17. 

Se.  24. 
No.  6. 
1738. 
Ap.  16. 
Oc.  12. 
1739. 
Fe.  17. 
'•    17. 

1 

13. 
1 
1 


Ma, 


Jy. 


1, 


1. 


1739. 

Au.  19. 
Se.  16. 
14. 
"  28. 
1740. 
280Mh.ll. 
28lJu.  15 

282 


276 
277 

278iOc 
279 


283 
284 
2c^5 
286 
287 
288 
289 
290 
291 


"    15. 

1741. 

Ma.   7. 

"  7. 
"  10. 
"  10. 
"    10. 

21. 

21. 

21. 
2. 


Ju. 


Au, 


Peter  Thacher  Jr.,  fa.  35,  dis.  1748  to  Attleboro,  Pastor 
there;  m.  1749  Betliiah  Carpenter,  d.  Se.  13,  1785,  ae. 
70th,  (p.  36.) 

Jedidah  Eddy,  w.  Moses  [fa.  234],  m.  1735,  o.  Wood,  fa. 

116,  d.  Mh.  9,  1788,  je.  73. 

Waitstill  Miller,  (409),  o.  Clap,  d.  Au.  27, 1754,  ae.  38th. 
Rebecca  Darling,  (149)  m.  bef.  1725. 

John  Ca vender,  (126) ;  dau.  Catherine  b.  1731. 
Mary  Tinkham. 

Caleb  Tomson,  fa.  9,  (269),  d.  Ja.  10,  1787,  se.  75. 
Abigail  Tomson,  (268)  m.  bef.  1737,  o.  Crossman,  d.  No. 
23,  1791,  £6.  77th. 
John  Pratt,  s.  Sam'I,  m.   H.  Turner,   1725,  2d.  w.  1729, 

(466?) 

Abigail  Thomas,  w.  Nathan  (608)  m.  1735,  o.  Alden,  fa. 

32,  d.  Ja.  1744,  ffi.  29. 
Gersham  Cobb,h.  1714,  fa.  421,  br.  419,  sis.  377,  (455)  Dea. 

174.7,  Re.,  &  d.  in  old  age,  in  Hard  wick,  Mass. 
Thankful  Bennet,  (ad.  50)  m.  1724,  2d.  m.  Seth  Samson 

1758,  o.  Sproat. 
Ruth  Barrows,  w.  Sylvanus  bef.  1738  at  Barnst.,  dis.  to 

"Wendham,"  1755. 
Samuel  Thacher  fr.  Plym.,  fa.  35,  m.  Debo'h  Bennet  1747, 

2d.  w.  Sarah  bef.  1759,3d.  m.  1779  Catherine  Stephens, 

d.  Mh.  21,  1795,  ae.  78th. 

Mary  Fuller. 

Else  Caswell,  m.  Benj'n.  Heyford  ?  1752. 

Joanna  Jackson,  (335)  m.  1735,  o.  Bates,  b.  1718,  fa.  86. 

Mary  King,  (ad.61)m.l732,o.Green,dis.l747  to  Turkey ,N.J. 

Sarah  Wood,  (295)  m.  bef.  1739,  dis.  1744  to  Berkley. 
Mary  Thomas,  (258)  m.  1733,  o.  Alden,  fa..  32,  br.  222,  334, 

427,  sis.  271,  244,  d.  Au.  1,  1787,  ae.  75th. 
Mary  Thomas,  (424)  m.  bef.  1733,  d.  Au.  4,  1768,  ae.  58th. 

Mary  Griffeth  fr.  Rochester. 

Martha  Morse  fr.  Carver,  w.  Jona.  d.  1805,  ge.  95. 

(  Shubael  Lewis  fr.  Carv,  (286) ;  chi.  Samuel  b.  1739,  &;c. 

I  Hazadiah  Lewis  fr.  Carv.  (285),  o.  Eddy,  b.  1712,  fa.  234. 
Jacob  Burges  fr.  Yarmouth  2d.  chh.,  m.  bef.  1741. 

(  Joshua  Donham  fr.  Carv.  (289.) 

I  Keturah  Donham  fr.  Sandw.,  (288)  m.  1740,  o.  Barlow. 
Lydia  Crocker  fr.  Carv.,  w.  Theopholus  bef.  1731. 
Christiana  Raymond  fr.  Bridg'r.,(460),  o.  Machaan,  mo.  152. 
12 


90 


1741. 

292 

Au 

16. 

293 

Dec 

:.  6. 

294 

a 

C. 

295 

11 

6. 

296 

a 

6. 

1742. 

297 

Jan 

.  3. 

298 

a 

3. 

299 

u 

3. 

300 

li 

3. 

301 

a 

3. 

302 

(I 

3. 

303 

li 

3. 

304 

Ja. 

10. 

305 

(( 

10. 

306 

« 

10. 

307 

a 

10. 

308 

a 

10. 

309 

a 

16. 

310 

(I 

24. 

311 

u 

24. 

312 

a 

24. 

313 

li 

24. 

314 

n 

24. 

315 

11 

24. 

316 

li 

24. 

317 

ii 

24. 

318 

Fe. 

14. 

319 

u 

14. 

320 

u 

14. 

321 

(( 

14. 

322 

li 

14. 

323 

11 

14. 

324 

li 

14. 

325 

11 

14. 

826 

u 

14. 

James  Sproat,  mo.  136,  br.  323,  Pastor  (p.  54),  d.  1793, 

33.  71. 

William  Lyon,  (389);  s.  Elisha  b.  1744,  Daniel  b.  1761. 
Nathan  Bassett  Jr.,  fa.  125, 1st.  w.  bef.  1730,  2d.  w.  (302.) 
John  Wood  Jr.,b.  1716,  (280),  dis.  1744  to  Berkley. 
Job  Palmer,  fa.  21,  br.  142,  sis.  184,  d.  Ja.  1, 1746,  ae.  26th. 

Jabez  Vaughan,  fa.  38,  br.  113,  (92)  d.  Ap.  13, 1773,  je.  91st. 
Israel  Thomas,  mo.  402,  sis.  119,  (391),  d.  Ju.  29, 1778,  se.  65. 
Thomas  Thatcher,  fa.  35,  unm.,  d.  De.  10,  1744,  se.  24th. 
EHzabeth  Weston,  (231)  m.  173-5,  o.  Smith? 
Elizabeth  Ames,  wid.  of  Seth,  2d.  m.  1742  (312),  o.  Prince 

dau.  of  John,  gr.  fa.  120,  d.  175.3. 
Thankful  Basset,  (294)  2d.  w.  bef.  1740. 
Peggy,  (Ind.)  m.  Tom  (Afr.)  1741,  servants  of  E.  Leonard. 
Timothy  Fuller,  b.  1721,  br.  247,  dis.  1766  to  Attleboro'. 
Mary  Allen,  b.  Mch.  4,  1715,  fa.  76,  br.  326. 
John  Thacher,  b.  Ap.  27,  1723,  fa.  35,  brs.  262,  275,  299. 
Hannah  Cox,  (398)m.  1721,  o.  Smith,  d.  De.  18, 1777,  a?.  78? 
Rebecca  Southworth,  (ad. 82)  m.  1741,  o.  Ellis,  mo.  190,  br. 

John  384,  d.  Ju.  19,  1781,  x.  60th. 
Rachel  Smith,  (360)  m.  1738,  o.  Cobb,  mo.  219,  sis.  379,  d. 

Mh.  2,  1767,  Si.  47. 
Joseph  Bates  Jr.,  b.  1722,  fa.  86,  sis.  257,  278,  m.  Eunice 

Tinkham  1749,  dis.  1787  to  Hartland,  Vt. 
Ephraim  Wood  Jr.,  fa.  68,  br.  400,  sis.  332,  m.  Mary  Lazell 

1742,  2d.  w.  (442)  m.  1752,  d.  De.  14,  1781,  ce.  66th. 
Joshua  Lazell,  (201),  s.  Prince  b.   1745,  dau's  Elizabeth 

and  Mary ;  d.  in  Bridg'r,  1749. 
Deborah  Smith,  (ad.65),  o.  Barden,  d.  Ja.  9,  1801,  se.  93d. 
Prince,  (Afr.),  (416)  m.  1747,  serv't  of  Eben'r  Morton. 
Else  Antony,  (Ind.)  d.  about  1790. 
Abiel  Leach  fr.  Hal'x,  (435)  m.  bef.  1739,  d.  Oc.  2,  1787, 

03.  87th. 
Jonathan  Snow  fr.  Bridg'r,  ra.  Sarah  Soul  1728,  2d.  m. 

1746  to  Ruth  Bennet ;  gr.  fa.  of  Aaron,  d.  1783.  an.  81. 
Jonathan  Smith  Jr.,  b.  Fe.  14,  1716,  (417)  m.  1737,  fa.  63, 

br.  360,  dis.  1753  to  Boulton. 
John  Vaughan  Jr.,  b.  Ap.  5,  1720,  fa.  113,  br.  364,  351, 

sis.  320,  478,  395,  405. 

Jerusha  Vaughan,  fa.  118,  (346)  m.  1743,  d.  No.  25,  1787, 

se.  66. 

Abigail  Thayer,  b.  1718,  dau.  of  Isaac,  m.  L.  Kitts,  1754. 
Mary  Thomas,  m.  James  Willis  1759. 
Ebenezer  Sproat,  mo.  136,  br.  292,  (332),  d.  Ja.  23,  1786, 

se.  69th. 
Thomas  Felix  Jr.,  (Indian.) 

Barnabas  Raymond,  b.  Ma.  21, 1710,  fa.  213,  br.  393,  (255). 
David  Allen,  b.  1713,  fa.  76,  sis.  305,  m.  Fear,— bef.  1745, 

[who  d.  1753,  SB.  53d  ] 


91 


1742. 

Mb 

.  7. 

(( 

7. 

a 

7. 

u 

7. 

li 

7. 

n 

7. 

u 

7. 

(( 

7. 

i( 

7. 

a 

7. 

a 

7 

ii 

7 

u 

7 

« 

14 

u 

]4 

(( 

14 

u 

14 

u 

14 

li 

14 

(( 

14 

a 

14. 

i( 

14 

a 

14 

li 

14 

li 

14. 

u 

14. 

11 

14. 

ik 

14 

11 

28 

a 

28 

li 

28 

li 

28 

11 

28. 

11 

28. 

11 

28. 

Woodward  Tucker,  "aged  9  yrs."  fa.  164,  br.  541,  635,  sis. 

489,  m.  Mercy  Tinkham  1756,  d.  Ap.  12,  1761,  se.  28th, 

(p.  63.) 
Benoni  Thomas,  unm.  d.  about  1750  ? 
Jedediah  Lyon,  fa.  201,(589)m.  1743,  d.Fe,  9, 1807,  £e.  86th. 
Patience  Raymond,  b.  No.  11,  1724,  fa.  87. 
Mary  Hathaway  ,  dis.  1745  to  Berkley. 
Bathsheba  Wood,  fa.  68,  (323)  m.  1749,  d.  Ju.  28,  1798, 

se.  74. 
David  Sears,  (399,  347)  m.  1734  &  1781,  chi.  Zebedee,&c. 
Noah  Alden,  fa.    32,  br.  222,  427,  (371);  dis.  1749  to 

Stafford,  Pastor  at  Bellingham,  d.  1797,a!.  71st,  (p.55) 
John  Jackson  Jr.,  (278)  Re.  to  St.  of  Maine,  d.  1811,85.95. 
Peter  Tinkham  sr.,  mo.  24,  gr.  fa.  11,  (ad.40)  m.  1730,  d. 

Oc.  10,1745,  re.  36. 

Samuel  Tinkham  3d.,  gr.  gr.  fk.  46  sis.  357,  260,  433,  (436) 
m.  Patience  Simmons  1760,  d.  Mh.  28,1796,®.  72,(p.71). 

Susanna  Tinkham,  mo.  595,  br.  346,  sis.  359,  347,  m.  Jas. 
Cobb  1749,  d.  Ju.  21,  1813,  je.  88. 

John  Williams.     No  early  records  of  this  name. 

Elizabeth  Williams,  m.  Jabez  Eaton  1759  ? 

(  Zachariah  Eddy,  fa.61,br.  243,(342)  d.  De.  6, 1777,  £b.  66. 

j  Mercy  Eddy,  (341)  m.  1737,  o.  Morton,  mo.  127,  d.  Au. 

(  25,  1802,  a;.  80. 

(  Benjamin  Warren,  fa.  174,  (344)  m.  '41,  d.  Ja.  1802,  se.  81. 

(  Jedidah  Warren,  (343)  o.  Tupper,  d.  Oc.  20, 1807,  3S.  83d. 
.Joseph  Tinkham,  mo.25,  (358)  m.  1740,  d.  Ap.  28,1767,£e.45. 
John  Tinkham  Jr.,  mo.  595,  (320)  d.  Au.  22;  1793,  «.  74. 
Hannah  Tinkham  Jr.,  mo.  595,br.  346,  sis.  338,  (364,  333), 

Ist.m.  1742,  2d.  m.  (ad.63),3d.m.  1781,d.Ap.  14,  1802,iB.79. 

Priscilla  Tinkham,  mo.  25,  br.  345,  (419,  368)  m.  1743,1751, 
d.  Ap.  5,  1769,  £6.  43d. 

Patience  Tinkham,  (356)  m.  1744,  d.Ap.  9, 1791,  a3.74th. 
Eleazer  Thomas,mo.45,  br.425,424,m.  Mary  Shaw  Jr.,1746, 

d.  Se.  23,  1808,  aj.  83. 

Elisha  Vaughan,  fa.  113,  br.  364,  (359)  m.  1746,  b.  De.l723. 

Susanna  Thacher,  b.  1719,  fa.  35,  br.  262,  275,  299,  306,  sis. 
183,  m.  Samuel  Tucker  of  Milton,  1742. 

Deborah  Redding,  b.  1722,  fa.  62,  br.  426,  439,  467,  sis.  410. 

Nelson  Finney,  fa.  240?  m.  Martha  Simmons  1749,  Rosa- 
mond Thomas  1755 ;  d.  Ju.  22,  1781,  ee.  53d. 

Ephraim  Wood,  fa.  116,  (448)  m.  1743,d.  No.  8, 1783,  as.  68. 

Edmund  Wood,  fa.  177,  (349)  m.  1744,  d.  De.  29, 1805,35.84. 

Martha  Tinkham,  br.  337,  (378)  m.  1742,  d.  Mh.20,  1744, 
fe.  24th. 

Agnes  Tmkham,  b.  1721,  mo.  72,  br.  428,  (345,  477)  m. 
1740,  1769  ;  a  3d.  m  ?  o.  Mackfun,  alias  Maxwell. 

Esther  Tinkham,  b.  1721,  mo.  595,  br.  346,  sis.  338,  (351). 

Samuel  Smith,  fa.  63,  br.  318,  (309),  d.  De.  16, 1781,  je.  67. 

Susanna  Leach,  se.  9  yrs.  fa.  316,  d.  Mh.  22,  1751,  se.  18. 


92 


1742.1 


362 

Mh.  28.1 

363 

u 

28. 

364 

(( 

28. 

365 

(I 

28. 

366 

n 

28. 

367 

li 

28. 

368 

ii 

28. 

369 

Ap 

11. 

370 

11 

11. 

371 

(( 

11. 

372 

u 

11. 

373 

(( 

11. 

374 

(( 

11. 

375 

(( 

11. 

376 

u 

11. 

377 

(I 

11. 

378 

« 

11. 

379 

(( 

15. 

380 

(( 

15. 

381 

u 

15. 

382  Ma 

.  — 

383!  « 

— 

384 

" 

385 
386 
387 
388 

389 
390 
391 
392 
393 
394 
395 
396 
397 


Ma.  27 


Elijah  Clap,  fa.  138?  br.  437  ?  (375)  m.  1741,  d.  1790. 
Daniel  Vaughan,  fa.  297,  sis.  371,  (372),  d.  Ja.  8, 1812,a3.99^ 
Joseph  Vaughan,  fa.  113,  br.  319,  (347)  m.  1742,  b.  Ja.  26, 

1719,  d.  abt.  1746. 

John  Darling,mo.  42,  br.  149  ?(423)m.l721;  had8  ss.&5daus. 

Susanna  Winslow,  wid.  James  m.  1732,  2d.  m.  1744,  to  Jesse 

Bryant,  o.  Conant,  rao.  101,sis.422,rl.Ap.l7,I801,a;.90th. 

John  Lovell  Jr.,  b.  1702,  mo.  31,  br.  449,  (408)  m.bef.l729. 

William  Cushman,  (369,  348)  m.  '35,  '51,  d.  Au.  27, 

1768,  X.  53d. 
Susanna  Cushman,  (368)  o.  Sampson, d.  Se.l3,1749,fE.33. 
Mary  Fuller,  dau.  Jonathan  and  Elinor,  b.  1725,  br.  247. 
Joanna  Vaughan,  fa.  113,  br.  319,  351,  364,  sis.  320,  395, 

(334)  m.  1744,  b.  1725,  dis.  1749  to  Staiifbrd. 
Sarah  Vaughan,  (363)  m.  1735,  o.  Cushman,  d.  Fe.  1, 1791. 
Elizabeth  Raymond  Jr.,  b.  1728,  fli.  87,  sis.  330,  m.  1745 

Silas  Rickard,  dis.  1749,  to  Pomfret,  Ct. 
Japheth  Rickard,  m.  Martha  bef.  '55,  re.  d.  No.  25,  1798. 
Hope  Clap,  (362)  o.  Thomas,  dis.  1792  to  Brookfield. 
John  Tomson,  s.  of  Shubael,  (418)?  d.  Ju.  22,1766,  og.  49. 
Joanna  Wood,  (400)  m.  1737,  o.  Cobb,  b.  1715,  fo.  421,  br. 

272,  419,  Re.  to  Hadley,  Mass.  and  died  in  old  age. 

Nathaniel  Wood,  fa.  82,  br.  379,  (357),  2d.  m.  1744  Mary 

Winslow,  dis.  1783  to  Woodstock,  Vt.,  d.  1803,  x.  78. 
Ichabod  Wood,  fa.  82,  br.  378,  m.  1743  Thankful  Cobb,  mo. 
219,  2d.  m.  1777   Priscilla  Thomas,  mo.  250,  d.  Au.  8, 
1787,  x.  68. 

[Patience  Wood  (116)  ra.  1735;  1st.  h.  Ichabod  Cushman  sr., 

d.  Se.  8,  1755,  SB,  65th. 
Elizabeth  Lewis,  wid.  (prob.)  of  Jas.  m.  1716,  o.  Parlow. 
Joseph  Rowland. 

Martha  Chummuck,  (Afr.)  chi.  James  bap'd.  (415)  m.  1748. 
'Elizabeth  Ellis  Jr.,  w.  John,  o.  Coomer,  8  chi.  b.  fi-.  1742, 

to  1759,  d.  Mh.  3,  1781,  x.  60th. 

Phebe  Thomas,  w.  Jabez,  bef.  1737,  d.  Fe.  12  1772,  re.  58. 
Sarah  Thomas,  w.  Eph'm.  bef.  1740,d.  Fe.  20,  1810,£e.89th. 
Abigail  Thomas,  prob.  w.  Nath'l.  sr.,  m.  bef.  1722. 
Prudence  Knowlton,  w.  John,  m.  1742,  o.  Thomas,  b.  1722, 

mo.  387. 

Martha  Lyon,  (293)  m.  1740,  o.  Knowlton,  b.  1718,  fa.  188. 
Sarah  Lyon,  br.  293  ?  sis.  391  ? 

Phebe  Lyon,  (298)  m.  1742,  br.  293?  d.  Ma.  27, 1795,«.72d. 
Sarah  Smith,  fa.  63,  (467?)  m.  1747,  d.  De.  8,  1777,  m.  50th. 
Ebenezer  Raymond,  b.  1703,  fa.  213,  (254)  m.  bef.  1732. 
Eleazer  Pratt  Sr.,  (407)  chi.  Eleazer  b.  1705. 
Mercy  Vaughan,  b.  1727,  fa.  113,  m.  Jos.  Barden  Jr.  1747. 
Joanna  Pratt,  wid. 
Hannah  Tinkham,  (428)  m.  bef  1739,  o.  Shavv,d.  Se.5,1794. 

SB.  79th. 


93 


1742 

Ma.  27 

<( 

27 

a 

27 

(I 

27 

a 

27 

u 

27 

Ju. 

13 

(( 

20 

(( 

20. 

(( 

20 

a 

20. 

(I 

20. 

ii 

20. 

a 

20. 

Jy. 

4. 

(( 

4. 

a 

4. 

it 

4. 

a 

4. 

a 

4. 

a 

4. 

ii 

4. 

a 

4. 

a 

7. 

a 

7. 

a 

7. 

Au. 

19. 

(( 

19. 

«    19. 
"    19. 


19 

19 

19 

19 

19 

19 

19 

19 

Oc. 

8. 

John  Cox  Sr.,  (307)  m.  1721,  d.  Ju.  5,  1761,  a.  C6th. 

Phebe  Sears,  (333)  m.  bef.  1734,  d.  Oc.9,  1779,  i«.  67tli. 

Samuel  Wood,  fa.  G8,  br.  311,  sis.  332,  (377)  m.  1737,  d. 
Jy.  12,  1750,  £6.  37. 

Solomon  Alden,  b.  1728,  fa.  222,  d.  abt.  1813,  «.  84? 

Sarah  Thomas,  2d.  w,  and  wid.  of  Wm.  sr.,  m.  1705,  o.  Bar- 
den,  d.  Ma.  9,  1745,  se.  62d. 

Asa  Thomas,  b.  1721,  mo.  249,  brs.  Hushai,  Zadock,  &c. 

Ephraim  Donham  Jr.,  fa.  162,  (433)  m.  1741,  d.  abt.  1750. 

Nathaniel  Bumpas,  b.  1717,  mo.  Ill,  m.  Abiah  Vaughan 
[her  fa.  113]  1752. 

Samuel  Pratt  3d.  m.  Wilberce  Bumpas  1741,  (ex.  1783.) 

Hannah  Pratt  Sr.,  (394.) 

Lydia  Lovell,  (367)  m.  bef.  1729,  chi.  Peter,  James,  &,c. 

John  Miller  Jr.,  (264)  m.  1732.  d.  Ma.  27,  1759,  fe.  47th. 

John  Cox  Jr.,  m.  Lydia  Redding  '46,  d.  Jy.  6, 1770,  a3.  47th. 

Rebecca  Tupper,  (259)  m.  1735,  o.  Bumpas,  b.l713,mo.lll. 

Fear  Williamson,  w.  Geo.  Jr.,  m.  '38,  o.  Eddy,  fa.  61,  Re. 
to  N.  J. 

Thankful  Lovell,  bap.  1723.  mo.  31,  br.  367. 

Lydia  Wood,  b.  1722,  fa.  11  6  ?  m.  Benj'n.  Shelley  ?  1745. 

Sambo,  (Afr.),  (383)  m.  1748,  serv't.  of  the  Pastor. 

.Jenny,  (Afr.),  (314)  m.  1747,  serv't.  of  Peter  Bennet. 

Experience  Smith,  (318)  m.  1737,  o.  Cushman. 

Lydia  Torason,  (376?)  m.  bef.  1742,  d.  Ja.  28, 1761,a;.39th. 

John  Cobb  Jr.,  br.  272,  sis.  377,  (348)  d.  Ju.  22,  1750,  je.  28. 

Seth  Harris,  m.  Abiah  Alden,  dau.  Samuel,  dis.  1759  to 
J5ridg'r.,  d.  in  Abington,  1797,  x.  741 

(  John  Cobb  Sr.,  fa.  17,  br.  219,  si,s.  447,  (119,  422)  m.  bef. 

]  1714,  and  1725,  d.  Jy.  6,  1750,  se.  61. 

(  Mary  Cobb,  (421).  o.  Conant,  mo.  101,d.Au.l6,1795,a5.92d, 

Elizabeth  Darling,  (365)  o.  Bennet,  d.  Ja.  22,  1774,  se,  73. 

William  Thomas  Jr.,  mo.  45,  br.  425,  (282)  d.  Ju.7,'64,ai  53d, 

Benjamin  TJiomaa  fr.  Carv.,  mo.  45,  br.  424,  350,  (484),  Dea, 
1776,  d.  Ja.  18,  1800,  je.  78,  (p.  60.) 

John  Redding,  fa.  62,  br.  439,  467,  sis.  353,  m.  Sarah — bef. 

1748,  d.  Au.  14,  1750,  se.  31st. 

John  Alden,  fa.  32,  br.  222,  334,  m.  Lydia,  bef.  1740,  m. 
Kebecca  Weston  1750,  d.  Mh  27,  1821,  re.  102,  (p.  61.) 
Ebenezer  Tinkham,  mo.  72,  (397)  d.  No.  17, 1801,  a>.  87th. 
Lydia  Wood,  (ad.45)  ra.  1728,  o.  Lovell,  d.  Oc.  3,1789,a;.83. 
Hannah  Cox,  fa.  398,  br.  410,  sis.  431,  506,  m.  Benj.  Philips, 

1749,  dis.  1776  to  Ashfield. 

Mary  Cox,  b.  1725,  fa.  398,  m.  Joseph  Thomas  1746. 
Elizabeth  Canada,  (ad.48)  ra.  '27,  o.  Eaton,  b.  1701,  fa.  15. 
Mercy  Dunham,  (404),  2d.  m.  to  Joseph  Besse  1756,  o. 
Tinkham,  dau.  SamuelJr.,  br.337,  d.  Fe.  16,1811,£e  85th. 
Patience  Cobb,  m.  Wm.  Winslow,  '47,  dis.  1784  to  War'm. 
Sarah  Leach  fr.  Brids'r.,  (316),  d.  Ma.  21,  1795,  a3.  87th. 
Hope  Cobb,  fa.  272,  (337)  m.  1745,  d.  Ju.  3. 1760,  je.  33(1. 


94 


1742. 

437 

Oe.  8. 

438 

"   8. 

439 

Oc.  16. 

440 

De.  5. 

441 

"   5. 

442 

"   5. 

443 

"   5. 

444 

"   5. 

445 

unc. 

446 

unc. 

1743. 

447 

Mh.  13. 

448 

«  13. 

449 

'•  13. 

450 

«  13. 

451 

«  13. 

452 

Ma.  5. 

453 

^'   5. 

454 

«   5. 

455 

Ju.  16. 

456 

«  16. 

457 

Jy.  28. 

458 

"  28. 

459 

"  28. 

460 

Se.  8. 

461 

"   8. 

462 

«   8. 

463 

"   8. 

1744. 

464 

Fe.  5. 

465 

"   5. 

466 

«   5. 

467 

"   5. 

1745. 

468 

Mh.  28. 

1746. 

469 

Mh.  2 

470 

2 

Manasseh  Clap,  br.  362,  m.  Rebecca  Cushman  1744,  d.Mh. 

17,  1757,  se.  32d. 
David  Delano  Jr.,  fa.  89,  m.  Deborali  Holmes  1745. 
William  Redding,  fa,  62,  br.  426,  (245),  d.  Oc.  6, 1791,  se.  85. 
j  Samuel  Pratt  Jr.,  b,  Ma.  15,  1097,  (441,604),  2d.m.l751. 
(  Jerusha  Pratt,  (440)  m.  bef.  1726,  d.  bef.  1751. 
John  Soul  Jr.,  mo.  55,  sis.  465,  471,  m.  Mary  Leach  1750, 

[2d.  h.  (311)1  d.  Fe.  19,  1751,  aj.  46th. 
Margery  Leonard,  m.  Eben'r.  Briggs  of  Taunton,  '46. 
Peru,  (African). 
Ichabod  Cushman,  mo.  380,  sis.  589?  m.  Patience  McFunn, 

alias  Maxwell  1751,  d.  1768,  aj  52. 
John  Leonard  Sr.,  m.  Abigail — bef  1735,  d.  abt.  1775. 

Martha  Simmons,  w.  Aaron  m.  1716,  (1st.  h.  40)  o.  Cobb, 

fa.  17,  br.  421,  d.  Au.  8, 1775,  se.  84. 
Hannah  Parlow,  b.  1725,  mo.  153,  (355)  m.  1743. 
Joseph  Lovell,  mo.  31,  m.  Patience  Barrows  1751?  d.  Fe.  11, 

1796,  X.  79. 
(  Jabez  Eddy  Jr.  fr.  Carv.,  b.  Ap.  14,  1700,  fa.  234,  (451). 
(  Patience  Eddy  fr.  Carv.,  (450)  o.  Pratt. 
Barzillai  Thomas,  fa.  238,  (506)  m.  1757,  only  chi.,  Bar- 

zillai,  d.  No.  5,  1813,  se.  82,  (p.  61.) 
Mercy  Hall,  dis.  1750  to  Raynham. 
Oxenbridge  Thacher,  b.  July  11,  1725,  fa.  35,  removed. 
Meletiah  Cobb,  (272)  m.  1727,  o.  Smith,  b.  1705,  dau.  J'n. 

sr.  &  Mary ;  re.  to  Hardwick.     Both  d.  in  old  age. 
Elizabeth  Turner,  w.  Japheth,  m.  1725,  o.  Morse, 
j  Thomas  Raymond  Sr.,  (458). 

"[Mary  Raymond,  (457)  m.  bef.  1708;  9  sons  &  4  dau's. 
Amos  Raymond,  b.  1710,  fa.  457,  m.  Susanna  bef.  1733,  6 

chi.;  re.  to  Matha's  Vineyard. 
Peter  Raymond,  b.  1718,  fa.  87,  (291)  m.  1739. 
Joseph  Parker.     He  was  here  in  1749. 
Sarah  Jackson,  br.  335,  m,  Jacob  Green  1746;  5  s.,  3  dau's. 
CaUiminco,  (Afi'.,)  m.  Anna ;  serv't  of  the  Pastor. 

Rebecca  Soul,  mo.  55,  d.  Ja.  24, 1759,  re.  46  ;  or  dau.  James 

and  Lvdia,  d.  Ju.  22,  1747,  ce.  47. 
Rachel  Soul,  mo."55,  m.  Eb.  Vauffhan  '44,d.Se.  4, 1778,36,59. 
Elizabeth  Pratt,  wid.  (270?)  m.  bef  1729. 
Thomas  Redding,  b.  1727,  fa.  62,  (392),  dis.  1784  to  Keene. 

REV.  SYLVANUS  CONANTfr.?  4th  Pastor,  (3d.w.492), 
d.  De.  8,  1777,  x.  58th,  (p.  36.)  Tradition  says,  1st.  w. 
Bethan  '*  of  Boston  ;  2d.  w.  Williams  of  Koxbury.  (See 
Notes  at  end.) 

(  Ebenezer  Cobb  fr.  Falmouth,  (470). 
(Mary  Cobb  fr.  Falmouth,  (469). 


95 


11746. 

471Ju.  22. 

Il747. 
472au.  16. 
1748. 

Fe.  14 
474  De.  25 

4751  "    25 


473 


1749. 

476  Ja.   15. 

1750. 

477Ju.     3, 

478' Se.     2, 


479 


No.  18. 


1751. 

480,Mh.24. 

4810c.     6. 

1754. 

482Mh.31. 

1 1755. 

483  Au.  24, 

1 1756. 

484!Ap.  11. 


485 
486 

487 
488 
489 
490 

491 

492 

493 

494 

495 
496 
497 


1757. 

Jy.     3. 

Oc.  16. 

1758. 

Ju.    25, 

"     25, 

«     25, 

Au.  13, 

"     13, 
"     13 

Oc.     1, 
1759. 

Au.  12, 
1760. 

Ma.  11 

"     11 

Jy.    20 


Esther  Soul  fr.  Hal'x.,  br.  442,  unm.,  d.  Ma.  15, 1793,  an.  86. 
Priscilla  Booth,  w.  John  sr.,  bef.  1721,  s.  John  &c. 

Thomas  Cole  Sr.,  d.  Ma.  16,  1759,  ss.  57th,  s.  Thomas  &c. 
Mary  Bates  fr.  Barnst.,  (86),  o.  Blossom,d.De  30,1750,£e.42. 
Hannah  Pumroy  fr.  Hal'x.,  br.  485,  m.  Jn.  Eddy  1760  ;  2d. 
m.  to  Jn.  Bradford  1765,  d.  in  old  age. 

Abigail  Faunce  fr.  Bridg'r.,  w.  James  m.  1747,  2d.  m.  Jn. 
Jacobs  1766,  o.  Rickard,  d.  Mh.  29,  1777,  ae.  54tli. 

Samuel  Benson  fr.War'm.,m.  Keziahbef.'30,2d.ra.'69(358). 
Joanna  Redding,  w.  Moses  m.  1745,  o.  Vaughan,  fa.  297,  br. 

363,  d.  Ap.  1805,  a.  85^. 
Mary  Savery,  w.  Thomas  m.  1738,  o.  Williams,  dis.  1758  to 

to  Andover,  Ct. 

Ann  Tilson  fr.  Barnst.,  w.  John  (ad.89?)  gr.,  s.  652,  o.  Hara- 

blin,  resided  in  Carver,  and  d.  in  old  age. 
Thomas  Williams. 

Isaac  Tinkham  fr.  Hal'x.,  fa.  93,  (519)  d.  Oc.  28, 1779,  a3.59. 

Elkanah  Shaw,  s.  of  George,  (527),  d.  De.31, 1805,^.81. 

Elizabeth  Thomas  fr.  Carv.,  (425)  m.  bef.  1743,  o.  Church- 
hill,  sis.  629,  d.  De.  26,  1804,  £e.  80th. 

Francis  Pumroy  Jr.,  m.  Sarah  Nye  of  Plymt.  1763,  sis.  475, 

chi.,  Dr.  John  d.  in  Vt.,  1844  tE.  80 ;  Hannah  b.  1766. 
Bethiah  Freeman  fr.  Sandw.,  w.  Josiah  bef.  1725,  o.  Hall, 
dau.  of  Elisha,  d.  Mh.  4,  1812,  sd.  90th. 

(  Ebenezer  Willis  Sr.,  (488)  m.  1753,  re.  to  Hard  wick. 
(Mary  Willis,  (487)  o.  Jackson,  dis.  to  Hardwick,  1801. 
Sarah  Tucker,  fa.  164,  br.  327^  unm.  d.Ap.  11,  1773,  ss.  42. 
(  John  Briggs  fr.  Hal'x.,  (491),  m.  Ab.  Morse  1763,d.l810? 

<  £6    99 

(  Remember  Briggs  fr.  Hal'x.,  (490)  m.l740,b.l719,fa.213. 
Abigail  Conant  fr.  Norwich,  (468)  o.  Huntington,  dau.  Col. 

Hezekiah  of  Ct.  d.  Ja.  3,  1759.  se.  28. 
Hannah  Weston. 

Thankful  Redding,  fa.  439,  unm.  d.  Ja.  11,  1810,  se..  74. 

( Ichabod  Morton  (496),  Bea.  1782,  d.  Ma.l6,1809,£e.85th. 
I  Deborah  Morton,  mo.l27,(495)  m.'49,  d.No.l7,1789,a^.59. 
Deborah  Cushman,  wid.  John  Jr.,  ra.  1746,  b.  1729,  fa.  325. 


96 


11761.1 

498  Ju.   14.  Desire  Morse,  mo.  284,  sis.  574,  bap.  1743. 
1762.1 

499  Ap.    4.ircliaboa  Billington,  b.  1737,  mo.  186,  m.  Bette  Peck,  1758. 


500 
501 
502 

503 
504 

505 

506 

507 
508 

509 

510 

511 
512 
513 


July   4.    (  Ste|)hen  Powers,   (501)   re.toVt.   (  chi.,  Susanna,  Mary,  Stephen, 
A  \  "{  T      J-      TT  /^i\i\\  -!-■.  ■(  and  John,  father  of  the  Sculp- 

4.   (  Lydia  Powers  (oOO),  o.  Drew.      (tor. 

Experience  Totman,  w.  Samuel  ?  clii.  Samuel,  bap. 


Oc.    3. 
1763. 

Mh.27 


514 

515 

516 
517 
518 

519 
520 
521 

522 
523 
524 

525 


Abraham  Vaughan,  fa.  241,  m.  Ann  Russell  1764,  d.  Se.  14, 
1811,  «.  76.     A  tri-hirth  with  Ebcn'r.  &  EUsha,  b.  1735. 
Ju.   19.  ( John  Leach,  (505)  m.  1759,  2d.  m.  1785  Rebecca  Sturte- 
\  vant,  d.  No.  9, 1822,  te.  85,  (ex.  1803.) 

19.  (  Betty  Leach,  (504),  o.  Vaughan,  fa.  363,d.Ap.  21,  '73,86.36. 
Jy.   10.  Elizabeth  Thomas,  (452)  m.  1757,  o.  Cox,  fa.  398,  br.  410, 
sis.  430,  431,  d.  1814,  £e.  82. 
10.  Mercy  Purrington,  b.  1737,  fa.  256,  br.  Joshua,  Jn.  &c. 
Aug.  7.  Sarah  Redding  Jr.,  "  age  10  yrs,"  fa.  467,  m.  Jas.  Tinkham 
1770  [his  fa.  592],  d.  Ap.  2,  1774,  3i.  22d. 
28.  Lucy  Thomas,  w.   Hushai  m.   1756,  o.  Vaughan,  dau.  of 
David,  d.  Oc.  31,  1822,  ffl.  84. 
Oc.  30.  Lemuel  Thomas,  mo.  163,  m.  1750  Mehitable  Weston,  d. 
Ja.  26,  1776,  a.  53d. 
(  Joseph  Warren,  b.  1715,  fa.  174,  (512)  m.  bef.  1757. 
(  Mercy  Warren,  (511).     Both  dis.  1771  to  Ashfield. 
Fear  Redding,  fa.  439,  m.  Nehemiah  Holmes  1771,  dis.  1773 
to  Plymt.  d.  here  Mh.  6,  1816,  a.  69. 

Lienor  Billington,  w.  Nath'I.  m.  1756,  o.  Warren,  dis.  1789 

to  Ashfield. 
Silence  Tilson,  w.  Timo.  o.  Whitting;  chi.  Timothy  bap. 


30. 

30. 

De.  25. 

1764. 

Ap.  22. 

"  22. 

1765 

Ja.  — 

Au.  18. 
Se.  29. 

1766. 

Mh.20. 

Ju.  8 

Au.  17. 
1767. 

Ju.  17. 

"  17. 

No.  1. 

1768. 

Ap.  3. 


Nathan  Eddy,  fa.  243,  m.  Eunice  Sampson  1757,  [sis.  538], 

d.  in  N.  Y.  State,  1813,  se.  80. 
Phebe  Leach,  wid.  of  Samuel  m.  1750,  o.  Rickard,  2d.  m. 

1766  to  Joshua  Willis. 

Abijah  Cobb,  w.  Nathan  m.  1753,  o.  Tinkham,  fa.  93,  br.482, 
d.  Fe.  5,  1776,  aj.  48th. 

Hannah  Tinkham,  (482)  m.  bef  1754,  o.  Robbins,  mo.  ad. 

35,  d.  Ja.  11,  1780,  a3.  51st. 

Consider  Brannack,  m.  Desire  Simmons,  [b.  1744,  dau.  of 

David  sr.]  1764,  re.  to  Vt.  1789. 
Catharine  Maxfield  fr.  Carv.,  wid.,d.after  1790?  in  old  age. 

(  Ebenezer  Briggs  fr.  Hal'x.  (523),  d.  Fe.  18, 1795,  a?.  68th. 
\  Abigail  Briggs  fr.  Hal'x,(522)  o.  Bryant,  d.  1808,  a;.  88. 
Elkanah   Elmes,  b.   '29,  mo.    172,  m.  Sarah  Lazell  '50. 
(Ex.  1803.) 

Mercy  Cobb  fr.  Barnst,  wid.of  Silvanus  of  Barnst.,chi.628, 
644,  d.  Mh.  4,  1781,  a.  75th. 


97 


526 
527 

528 

529 
530 
531 
532 


533 
534 
535 

536 
537 
538 

539 


1770. 

Ja.  14. 

Se.     2. 
1771. 

Ja.  13. 

"    20. 

"  20. 
Fe.  24. 
Ja. 

1773. 

Fe.  24. 

Mh.28. 
Au.    8. 

Se.  18. 

"    18. 

"  26. 
1774. 

Au.    7. 


1776. 

540  Ju.  30. 


541 
542 
543 
544 

545 

546 

547 
548 

549 
550 
551 


Se.    8, 

Oc.     6 
1777. 

Ap.  16 

1780. 

Jy.  30 

1781. 

De.    5. 

Au.  21. 
21, 


«    21 
1782. 

Ap.28 


Sarah  Tinkham,  -wid.  Epli'm.  m.  bef.  1758,  o.  Standisli,  2d. 

m.  Adam  Wright  of  Plymt. 
Elizabeth  Shaw,  (483)  m.  bef.  '50,  d.  Au.  19, 1786,  se.  61st. 

Peter  Oliver  Jr.,  son  of  Judge  O.,  (531)  chi.  Margaret  H.  b. 

1771,  Thomas  H.  b.  1772,  Peter  b.  1774;  Re.  1775,  d. 

in  Eug.  in  1822,  £e.  81. 
j  Thomas  Shaw,  (530)  m.  bef.  '71,  d.  in  the  army,1778,ce.40. 
(Mary  Shaw,  (529)  o.  Atwood,  d.  Ja.  10,  1808,  oe.  71st. 
Sarah  Oliver,  (528)  o.  Hutchinson,  dau.  Gov.  H.,  Re.  1775. 
Keziah  Thomas,  w.  Jedediah  Jr.,  m.  1749,  o.  Churchill,  sis. 

484,  629,  d.  Ju.  21,  1800,  ffi.  67th. 

Edmund  Maxham,  m.  Rebecca  Faunce  1771,  3  sons  b. 
Cuffee  Wright,  (Afr.),  (630),  d.  Fe.  22,  1796,  se.  44th. 
Samuel  Eddy,  fa.  243,  br.  516,  m.  Re.  to  N.  Y.  State,  d. 

18*^1    "^   79  th 
( Ichabod  Carey  fr.  Bridg'r.,  (537),  Re.  to  Chesterfield  ? 
(Hannah  Carey  fr.  Bridg'r.,  (536),  m.  1741,  o.  Gannett? 
Bachelor  Bennet,  m.  Mary  Sampson  1764,  Re.  to  Vt. 

Huldah  Washburn,  w.  Jonah  m.  1756,  o.  Sears,  b.  Au.  10, 
1737,  fa.  333,  dis,  1787  to  Randolph,  Vt. 

Margaret  Bryant,  w.  Micah  m.'70,o.  Paddock ;  Re.  to  St.  Me. 
Benjamin  Tucker  Jr.,  b.  1738,  fa.  164,  ra.  Mary  Thomas 

1760,  dis.  1786  to  Randolph,  Vt,  d.  as.  77  1 
Elizabeth  Wood,  w.  Nathan  m.  1757,  o.  Shaw ;  Re.  to  Vt. 

Susanna  Eddy,  fa.  243,  br.  535,  unm.  d.  Jy.  29,  '17,  se.  81st. 

Daniel  Thomas,  fa.  258,  m.Thankful— bef.  1778,  2d.  m.  Mary 
Jakok  bef.  1781,  d.  Ma.  14,  1789,  a.  46th. 

REV.  JOSEPH  BARKER,  5th  Pastor,  (579,  760),  s.  of 
Joseph,  of  Branford,Ct,b.  Oc.  19,  1751,chi.714,  788,d. 

I  Jy  25,  1815,  £6.  64th.  (p.  41.) 

David  Thomas,  b.  1742,  fa.  424,  br.  743,  m.  Deborah  How- 
land  1764,  2d.  m.  Mary  Thomas,  wid.  (544),  dis.  1793  to 
Woodstock,  Vt. 

Churchill  Thomas,  mo.  532,  m.  Hannah  Cushman,  dau. 
Joseph,  d.  De.  31,  1809,  ce.  48. 

Susanna  Cushman,  w.  Zenas,  o.  Wild,  d.  Mh.  18, 1830,  se.  86. 


28 

28. 


Isaac  Morse,  s.  Jonathan  Jr.,  mo.  284,  gr.  gr.  fa.  5,  m.  Je- 
mima Pratt  bef.  1769,  d.  Se.22,  1832,  on.  91st. 

Deborah  Thomas,  w.  Joseph  Jr.,  m.  1770,  o.  Thomas,  b. 
1736,  mo.  386;  Re.  to  Vt. 

Chloe  Tinkham,  w.  James  m.  1777,  o.  Rickard,  dau.  Sam'l. 
or.  and  Sarah,  d,  De.  29,  1822.  ae.  68. 

18 


98 


552 

1782. 

Ap.28 

553 

Ju.     2. 

654 

"    30. 

555 

''    30. 

556 

Jy.    7. 

557 
558 

«  7. 
"     7. 

559 

''  21. 

560 

No.  17. 

561 
562 

"  17. 
"    17. 

563 

564 
565 

566 

567 

568 

569 
570 
571 
572 

573 

574 
575 

576 

57  7 

578 


De.    1 

1783. 

Ja.     5. 

26. 

Jy.  27. 

Au.    3. 

«    10. 

1784. 

Ja.  18. 

"    18. 

«    18. 

Fe.  22. 

"  22. 
Ma.  16. 
Au.  29. 

1785. 

Ma.  22. 

Au.21. 

"    28. 


Ruth  BaiTows,  mo.  274,  m.  James  McFarland  1793,  d.  Fe. 

20.  1808,  X.  51. 

Rebecca  Wood,  w.  Lemuel  m.  1765,  o.  Tupper,  b.  1743,  fa. 

259 ;  Re.  to  N.  Y.  State. 
Sarah  Soule,  wid.  Wm.  m.  1762,  o.  Briggs,  br.  490,  522,  2d. 

m.  to  Timothy  Cobb,  d.  No.  4,  1820,  x.  80th. 
Lydia  Soule,  b.    1763,  mo.  554,  m.  Alvin  Robinson  1792, 

dis.  1803  to  Sumner,  Me. 
Mercy  Thomas,  w.  John  m.   1752,  o.  Shaw,  sis.  645 ;  dis. 

1803  to  Woodstock,  Vt.,  wid. 
r  William  Shaw,  (558),  br.  572,  d.  Mh.  7,  1807,  £e.  68. 
<  Lydia  Shaw,   (557),  o.   Soule,  dau.   Jacob  sr.,  d.  Ju.  10, 
(  1826,  x.  84. 

AzEL  Washburn,  b.  1764,  mo.  539,  dis.  1789  to  Royalton, 

Vt.,  d.  1841,  32.  77,  (p.  54.) 

Sarah  Miller,  wid.  of  Elias  m.  1732,  o.  Holmes,  d.  Se.  28, 
1800,  se.  89th. 

Elizabeth  Brown  fr.  Eastham,  w.  Thomas,  Re.  to  Vt.  St. 

Thankful  Sampson  fr.  Eastham,  w.  Israel,  m.  1780,  o.  Mar- 
tin, d.  Se.  24,  1831,  x.  82. 

Abner  Bourne,  mo.  575,  br.  587,  (568),  m.  bef.  1770,  Dea. 
1796,  d.Ma.  25,  1806,  a.  59th. 

Susannah  Smith  Jr.,  fa,  360,  (747),  d.  Ju.  24,  1824,  ai.  72. 
Mercy  Cushman,  w.  Noah,  m.  1769,  o.  Soule,  dau.  Jabez,  d. 

Mh.  24,  1788,  te.  40th. 
Thankful  Thomas,  mo.  ad.  85,  (648)  m.  bef.  1792,  d.  Fe.  27, 

1847,  aj.  95th. 
Lucy  Vaughanfr.  Bridg'r.,  w.  Eben'r,o.  Pratt,  d.  Ja.  1, 1822, 

£B.  74  1 

Mary  Bourne,  (563)  o.  Torry,  d.  Ma.  9,  1837,  as.  88th. 

Caleb  Thompson  Jr.,  fa.  268,  (570);  He  and  w.  dis.  1810 

to  Windsor,  Vt.,  d.  Te.  9,  1821,  x.  68. 
Mary  Thompson,  (569),  o.  Perkins,  dau.  of  Eben'r.,  sis. 
711,  d.  De.  9,  1816,  x.  60. 
Priscilla  Weston,  (762)  m.  1776,  o.   Sturtevant  dau.  Dr. 
Josiah  of  Hal'x.,  chi.  777,  d.  Mh.  16, 1834,  s&.  83d. 
James  Shaw  fr.  Duxbury,  (573),  br.  557 ;  He  and  w.  dis. 

1791  to  Bakertown,  Pa. 
Lois  Shaw  fr.  Duxb'y,  (572)  m.  1749,  o.  Thomas. 

Thankful  Morse,  b.  1745,  mo.  284;  Re.,  m. Gannet? 

Abigail  Bourne  fr.  Pembroke,  wid.  Eben'r.  o.  Newcomb,  d. 
De.  10, 1821,  se.  98th. 

Tilson  Ripley,  "  on  a  bed  of  sickness,"  w.  Rebecca,  9  chi.  b. 
fr.  1749,  to  '67,  d.  Ju.  16,  1785,  «.  67th. 

Lucy  Tinkham,  fa.  428,  gr.  mo.  72,  gr.  gr.  fa.  11,  m.  Issachar 
Fuller  1785.  Iler  memory  of  early  families  and  facts 
was  remarkable.     D.  Ap.  30,  1847,  ai.  95. 

Ruth  Tinkham,  fa.  428,  sis.  577,  unm.,  d.  Oc.  9, 1805,  as.  51. 


99 


1785. 

579 

Oc.  16. 

580 

«    30. 

1786. 

581 

Ja.   22. 

582 

"     22. 

583 

Ma.  14. 

584 

"     14. 

585 

Jy.     2. 

586 

«      9. 

1787. 

587 

Ap.    8. 

588 

«      8. 

589 

Au.  12. 

590 

Se.     2. 

591 

"      2. 

592 

«    23. 

593 

No.    4. 

1788. 

594 

Jy.  20 

595 


596 


597 


600 
601 


No.    6, 


De.    7. 


1789. 

Ja.    25. 

598'Mh.  15. 

599  Ap.    5. 

5. 

Jy.   19. 


602  Au.    2 


603 


«    23 


1790. 

604  Oc.     3. 
1791. 

605  Ju,  26 

606  Au.  14 


Eunice  Barker  fr.  Longmeadow,  (545)  m.  1785,  o.  Stebbins, 
dau.  Wtn.  and  Eunice,  d.  Oc.  6, 1809,  te.  49th,  (p.  41.) 

Hannah  Bryant,  w.  Nehemiah,  m.  1757,  o.  Totman,  d.  Fe. 
16,  1814,  ie.  83d. 

(  Wm.  Thomp3on,fa.  268,  (582)  m.  '70,  d.  Mh.l4,1816,fe.69. 
Deborah  Thompson,  (581)  o.  Sturtevant,  dau.  Lemuel  of 
Hal'x.,  sis.  584,  d.De.  23, 1842,  33.  96tli. 

Isaac  Thompson,  fa.  376,  sis.  744,  (584)  m.  1775,  d.  De. 

21,  1819,  ce.  74th. 

.  Lucy  Thompson,  (583)  o.  Sturtevant,  d.  No.  6,  '34,  se.  81st. 
Freelove  Thompson,  w.  Jacob  m.  1761,  o.  Finney,  dau.  of 

Pelatiah,  d.  No.  7,  1826,  ss.  87th. 
Sarah  Phinney,  wid.  John,  2d.  m.  1799  to  Ezra  Holmes,  o. 

Thompson  b.  1762,  dau  Nathan,  dis.  1808  to  Norton. 

(  Newcomb   Bourne  fr.  Hal'x.,  mo.  575,  i  ^|jg   1802  to 
)  br.  563,  (.588.)  fc    '•      fl   11    Vf 

I  Abigail  Bourne,  (587)  o.  Cushman.  )  ^P^'^g^el^'  ^^^ 
Mary  Lyon,  (329)  m.  1743,  o.  Cushman,d.Ju.8,1796,a3.73d. 
(  Samuel  Torry  sr.,  b.  1753,  s.  of  Wm.  (591);  8  chi.bef.1793. 
I  Mary  Torry,  (590),  o.  Finney,  b.  1757,  fa.  354,  Re. West. 
Jeremiah  Tinkham,  mo.  72,  gr.  fa.  11,  m.  Naomi  Warren 

1740,  d.  Ju.  7,  1790,  x.  76. 
WilHam  Cornish  sr.,  sis.  677,  m.  Mercy  Swift  bef,  1786,  2d. 

w.  Mehitable  Bates,  d.  Fe.  24,  1836,  x.  79th. 

Abigail  Haskell,  (598)  o.  Tabor,  d.  Jy.  26,  1811,  fe.  54. 
Hannah  Tinkham,  wid.  John  sr.,  m.  1716,  o.  Howland,  dau. 

of  Isaac,  and  gr.  gr,  dau.  of  John  of  the  M.  F.,  sis.  641  d. 
Mh.  25,  1792,  x.  97. 

Mercy  Bump,  w.  Joseph  m.  1775,  o.  Barden,  sis.  666,  d.  Ju. 
5,  1811,  as,  57th. 

Luther  Redding,  b.  1748,  mo.  478,  m.;  Re.  to  Taunton  &  d. 

Zebulon  Haskell,  (594)  m.  bef.  1785,  d.  Oc.  27,  1820. 
(  Elijah  Lucas,  (GOO),  Re.  to  Freetown,  d.  Ju.  8,  1806. 
I  Sarah  Lucas,  (599)  m.  abt.  1780,  o.  Shaw,  fa.  529,  br.  651. 

Mary  Tinkham,  w.  Peter  Jr.,  [fa.  336,]  m.  1764,  o.  Thomp- 
son, fa.  268,  br.  581,  d.  Ma.  30,  1815,  se.  70th. 

Abigail  Thomas,  w.  Israel,  o.  Finney,  fa.  354,  sis.  609,  d. 
Fe.6.  1829,  a  77th. 

Lucy  Leonard,  w.  Henry,  1st.  m.  1762  to  Samuel  Turner, 
3d.  m.  to  Mr.  Doty,  o.  Pratt,  mo.  191,  d.  May— 1835, 
se  93  d. 

Sarah  Pratt,  (440)  o.  Fuller,  mo.  146,  d.  No.  1794,  se  64? 

Jacob  Tisdell,  (694),  dis.  1795  to  N.  P.,  d.  in  N.  Y.  City, 
Mercy  Valler  fr.  Carv.,  w.  Silas,  Re.  to  Freetown. 


100 


607 

608 
609 


610 
611 
612 


613 

614 

615 
616 
617 
618 

619 
620 

621 

622 

623 

624 
625 

626 
627 

628 

629 


630 
631 


632 


1791. 

Oc.     9. 

1792. 

Ap.     1. 

Se.  30, 

1793. 

Ma.  26. 
Oc.     6. 

"      6. 


1794. 

Ja.   19, 

Fe.    2. 

«      2. 

«      9. 

Mh.   2 

2 

2, 
2. 

9. 

Au.  24. 

No.    2. 

«      2. 

«    23. 

1795. 

Ap.  29. 
Au.  23. 

No.  15. 

"    15. 

1796. 

Ju.     5 
Au.  14. 

1797. 

Mh.26 


Lydia  Bourne,  w.  Eben'r.  m.  1788,  o.  Leach,  b.  1766,  dau. 
of  Abiel  Jr.,  gr.  fa.  316.  Re.  to  Milton. 

Nathan  Thomas  sr.,  b.  1707,  s.  of  Edward  sr.,  br.  258,  (271) 
2d.  m.  1751  to  Abigail  Sturtevant,  d.  in  old  age. 

Martha  Finney,  fa.  354,  sis.  602,  unm.  d.  Mh.  11.  1833, 
ae.  69. 

Margaret  Pratt,  br.  772,  unm.  d.  Se.  8,  1800,  fe  42d. 

f  Josiah  Carver  fr.  War'm.,  (612),  d.  Ap.  5,  1799,  te.  74. 
J  Jerusha  Carver  fr.  War'm.,  (611),  1st  m.  1744  to  Edw'd 

j  Sparrow,  o.  Bradford,  dau.  Wm.  &  Elizabeth  of  Plym.,  d.  Apr.  23. 

I  1820,  02.  97. 


Isaiah  Weston,  b.  1770,  s.  Zach'h,dis.  1794  to  N.Bedford, 
m.  Sai'ah  Dean  of  Raynham,  (p.  54.)  d. 

Elizabeth  Tinkham,  w.  Cyrus,  m.  1788,  o.  Turner,  b.  1764, 
mo.  603,  sis.  716,  d.   at  Colraine,  abt.  1843. 

Isaac  Doty,  m. — Nimlet  '89,  dis.  '03  to  Brooktield  Vt. 

Priscilla  Turner,  w.  David,  m.  '86,  o.  Pratt;  Re.  to  Me. 
(Elijah  Alden,  fa. 427,  (618)  m.  1779,  d.  Ju.  26, '26,  jb.  72. 

■JMary  Alden,  (617)  o.  Alden,  fa.  401?  d.  Se.  22,  1839, 

(  £6.  84th. 

Elihu  Alden,  b.  1775,  fa.  427,  dis.  1808  to  Dixraont,  Me. 
Mercy  Porter,  w.  Jonathan,  m.  1761,  o.  Redding,  fa.  439, 

sis.  513,  494,  d.  Jy.  22,  1833  a;.  93. 

Benaiah  Pratt,  s.  of  Paul,  gr.  mo.  407,  m.  Louisa  Warren 

1792,  Re.  to  Me.,  a  2nd.  &  3d.  m.,  (p.  55.) 
Mary  Norcutt,  w.  Eph'm.  m.  1782,  o.  Kitts,  mo.  321,  d.  Fe. 

3,  1842,03.  83  d. 

Lucia  Ellis,  wid.  of  Matthias,  m.  1743,  o.  Bennet,  mo.  273, 

d.  Oc.3,  1804,  fe.  79. 
Lucy  Pratt,  dau.  Eben'r.,  br.  772,  unm.  d.  Au.  19,  1844,  te  80 
Thankful  Holmes,  w.  Ezra,  o.  Clark,  d.  Apr.  2,  '99,  as.  50th. 

Desire  Morse,  fa.  549,  dis.  1819  to  Hal'x.,  (re-ad.  1833.) 
Sarah  Sturtevant,  w.  Dr.  Thomas  m.  1777,  o.   Soule,   dau. 
Zach'h  &  Sarah,  d.  Mh.  11,  1839,  x.  83. 
f  Ebenezer  Cobb,  mo.  525,  br.  644,  (629),  d.  Au.  22, 1811, 

j  Eb.  80. 

]  Lydia  Cobb,  (G28),  m.  '54,  o.  Churchill,  d.  Ja.  10,  1822, 

[  33.  80. 

Anna  Wright,  (Afr.),  (534),  2d.  m.  to  Swansey  Hart,  d. 
Sarah  Tinkham,  wid.  of  Amos,  [mo.  595],  m.  1752,  o.  Tink- 
ham, dau.  Peter,  gr.  mo.  24,  d.  Fe.  13, 1820,  is.  85th. 

Betsey  Harlow  fr.  Plym.,  w.  Jonathan  sr.,  o.  Blackmar,dau. 
of  John  &  Mercy,  d.  Se.  9,  1833,  se.  87th. 


101 


633 

634 

635 
636 
637 

638 

639 
640 

641 

642 
643 

644 
645 

646 
647 


648 
649 

650 


651 
652 

653 


654 


655 

656 
657 
658 


1797. 

Ap.    9, 


Ma.  21, 
"  21, 
«    21. 

1798. 

All.    5. 

1799 

Ap.    7. 

Ma.  12, 


De.  29, 
1800. 

Ma.  18. 
Ju.  29. 

Au.  24. 
"  24. 
1801 

.Ju.  20. 

Au.  16. 

1802. 

Ju.  13. 
"    13. 

«    13. 

1803. 

Ap.  24. 
Ma.  22. 
1804. 

Ap.    8, 

1805. 

Ma.  19, 

1806. 

Ju.     8. 

Au.  10, 
Se      1. 


{Joshua  Eddy,  fa.  341,  bi-.  665,  sis.  673,  856,  (634)  Dea. 

J  1806,  d.  Ma.  1,  1833,  se.  85. 

1  Lydia  Eddy,  (633),  o.  Paddock,  dau.  Zacliariali,  gr.  fa. 

[  210,  d.  Fe.  13,  1838,  a3.  82. 

Samuel  Tucker,  fa.  164,  (757),  d.  Oc.  29,  1820,  se.  75tn. 

(Jesse  Bryant,  mo.  366,  (637),  d.  Oc.  26,  1828,  £e.  82. 

(  Mercy  Bryant,  (636),  o.  Shaw,  d.  Ja.  —  1819,  x.  73. 

Zilpah  Thomas,  w.  Jeremiah  Jr.  m.  1786,  o.  Wood,  dau.  of 
Amos,  sis.  794,  d.  Mh.  15,  1825,  te.  61. 

Ebenezer  Wilder  fr.  Clielsea,  s,  of  Nathan'l,  sis.  727,  (726) 

m.  1800,  d.  Se.2l,  1848,  x.  76Dh. 
Otis  Thojipson,  fa.  706,  sis  684 ;  Pastor  in  Rehoboth,  1st. 

w.  Kachael  Chandler  [d.  1827,  33.  48th.] ;  a  2nd.  m.;  Ke. 

in  Abington.  (p.  54.) 
.John  McDowall  fr.  Scotland  Eu. ;  s.  bap. ;  Ee.  to  St.  of  Me? 

Experience  Peirce,  dau.  Wm.,  unm.  d.  Jy.  14,  1845  ce.  70  ? 

Rhoda  Sparrow  fr.  War'm ;  w.  of  Edward,  [his  mo.  612] 
m.  1765,  o.  Burnp,  dau.  Phillip,  d.  Ja.  10, 1816,  x.  68th. 
(  Binney  Cobb,  mo.  525,  br.  628,  (645)         )        Re.  to 
(  Azubah  Cobb,(644)m.l762,o.Shaw,sis.556,  j  Woods'k  Vt. 

Benjamin   Pratt,  s.  Noah  of  Plymt.,  sis.  713,  m.  Jemima 

Bryant  1785,  d.  Oc.  18,  1838,  ce.  75th. 
Betty  Fuller,  w.  John,  o.  Smith,  dau.  of  John,  gr.  fa.  63, 

164,  chi.  685,  799,  1050,  d.  Se.  23,  1832,  ce.  75th. 

Isaac  Shaw,  (566),  chi.  1079,  d.  Fe.  2,  1824,  a;.  75th. 
{Perez  Thomas,  fa.  425,  (650),  Dea.  1803,  d.  Ju.  21, 1828, 
j  re.  77. 

\  Sarah  Thoma,s,  (649)  m.  1774,  o.  Wood,  fa.  378,  d.  Apr. 
[  3,  1829,  33.  76th. 

Samuel  Shaw,  fa.  529,  m.  Lydia  Cobb  1791,  [fa.  628.] 
r  Calvin   Tilson,  s.  of  Isaiah,  gr.  mo.  480,  (653,  882),  2d. 
j  m.  1824,  Dea.  1819.  d"  Jy.  3,  1852,  gi.  83d. 

1  Joanna  Tilson,   (652),  o.   Cobb,  dau.  Wm.,  d.   Oc.   16, 
[  1822,  te.  56. 

Mark  Shaw,  fa.  483,  ra.  Elizabeth  Sampson  1785,  [gr.  fa. 
193,  br.732,  2nd.  h.  (664)],  d.  Se.  5,  1806,  te.  47. 

Weltha  Thompson,  w.  Thomas,  o.  Whitmore,  sis.  of  Rev. 

Benj'n.,  d.  Apr.  16,  1848,  re.  76. 
Lydia  Thompson,  w.  Solomon,  m.  '86,  o.  Murdock,  dau.  Jn. 
Margaret  Finney,  w.  Lewis,  o.  Barden,  d.  Se.  11,  '29,  ss.  55. 
Jane  Ling,  w.  Sylvanus,  m.  1796,  o.  Cushman,  b.  1776, mo. 

701,  dis.  1839  to  Lisbon  Me.  &  Ke.  there. 


102 


1806. 

659 

Se. 

9. 

1807. 

660 

Ju. 

28. 

661 

(( 

28. 

662 

a 

28. 

663 

Jy. 

12. 

664 

(( 

12. 

665 

i( 

12. 

666 

u 

12. 

667 

ii 

12. 

668 

(I 

12. 

669 

a 

12. 

670 

a 

12. 

671 

a 

12. 

672 

a 

12. 

673 

a 

12. 

674 

a 

12. 

675 

ic 

12. 

676 

u 

12. 

677 

u 

12. 

678 

It 

12. 

679 

il 

26. 

680 

Au 

23. 

681 

(( 

23. 

682 

11 

23. 

683 

« 

23. 

684 

(( 

23. 

685 

u 

2.3. 

686 

(I 

23. 

687 

ii 

23. 

Keziah  Warren,  w.  Nathan  m.  1786,  o.  Weston,  2cl.  m.  to 
Wm.  White,  d.  Au.  17, 1830,  ce.  66th. 

Squire  Tinklmm,  mo.  631,  sis.  672,  (661),  m.  1797,  Both 

dis.  1823  to  Hartland  Vt.  d.  Oc.  17,  1851,  si.  79. 
Anna Tiakham,  (660)  o.  Wood,  fa.  747,  d.  Se.  1849,  a3. 76th. 

Daniel  Oliver  Morton,  fa.  ad.  10,  br.  862,  sis.  910,  d. 

Mh.  25,  1852,  te.  62.  (p.  55.) 
Silas  Tinkham,  s.  Samuel,  br.  526,gr.  fa.  46?  m.  Lydia  Smith 

[wid.  of  Jabez,  o.  Savery,  br.  667],  d.  Ja.  22, 1816,  x.  77th. 
James  Soule  2d.,  mo.  554,  m.  Eunice  Thompson,  dau.  of 

Eben'r;  2d.  m.  1813,  (654),  d.  Fe.  2,  1845,  iB.  83. 

'  Seth  Eddy,  fe.  341,  br.  633,  (666),  d.  Au.  17,  1837,  te  83, 
Jerusha  Eddy,  (605),  o.  Barden,  sis.  596,  d.  Oc.  29,  '35, 

£B.  76. 

Daniel  Savery,  mo.  ad.  62,  sis.  663,  gr.  gr.  mo.  43,  (668)  m. 

1794,  d.  Se.  21,  1836,  re.  72. 
Huldah  Savery,  (667)  o.  Soule,  mo.  554,  br.  664,  d.  Oc. 

17,  1853,  iB.  78. 

Zenas  Thomas,  fa.  425,  br.  649,  (670),  d.  Ma.  12,1821, 

£E.  59. 

Mary  Thomas,  (669)  m.  1783,  o.  Vaughan,  dau.  of  Jesse, 
gr.  fa.  319,  d.  Fe.  24.  1828,  re.  64. 
Experience  Bent,  s.  John,  m.  Salome  Gushing  of  Hal'x,  d. 

Jy.  13,  1849,  83.  85th.  (ex.  1826  ) 

Sarah  Wood,(748)  o.Tinkham,  mo.  631,  d.  Se.  20, 1846,  ge  89. 

Lucy  Fuller,  wid.  of  Dr.  Jonathan,  m.  1775,  o.  Eddy,  fa. 
341,  dis.  1834,toFairhaven.  (Re-ad  1839.) 

Sally  Fuller,  mo.  673,  m. Jenny,  dis.  1829  to  Fairhaven 

and  Re.  there. 

Deborah  Ellis,  (080)  ra.  1792,  o.  Hall,  dau.  Jabez  and  Deb- 
orah, d.  Se.  6,  1826,  x.  59th. 

John  Freeman,  s.  of  Elisha,  (893),  Bea.  1833,  dis.  1846  to 
Carver,  d.  Fe.  10,  1847,  ee.  60th. 

Susanna  Bates,  w.  Thomas,  [fa.  80],  o.  Cornish,  br.  593,  d. 

Ju.  13,  1823,  a;.  69. 
Joseph  Bates,  mo.  677,  unm.  d.  Ju.  19,  1846,  jp.  62d. 
Levi  Smith,  s.  Israel,  gr.  mo.  313,  m.  Charity  Bryant. 
Southworth  Ellis  sr.,  s.  of  Thomas  &  Ruth,  gr.  mo.  190, 

(675,  971,),  d.  Dec.  15,  1840,  a\  72d. 
Sylvanus  Eddy,  s.  of  Sam'l.  gr.  fa.  341,  m. — Fuller,  dau. 

Sam'l  of  Hal'x.,  d.  1852  in  Vt. 
Nathaniel  Eddy,  fa.  633.  br.  718,  944,  sis.  683,  (761,  797, 

1059),  Z)ea.  1852. 

Lydia  Eddy  Jr.,  fa.  633,  br.  718,  944,  m.  Barzillai  Crane 
1810,  dis.  1811  to  Berkley,  d.  Fe.  10,  1842,  re.  55th. 

Mary  Cobb,  w.  Crocker,  o.  Thompson,  fa.  706,  br.  640. 

Sophia  Fuller,  mo.  647,  sis.  709,  br.  1050,  (696)  m.  1813. 

Betsey  Leonai-d,  w.  Nathan'l.  m.  1788,  o.  Bryant,  fa.  636,  d. 

Sally  Kidder,  w.  Nathan,  o.  Chaddick  of  Sandvv.,Re.  to  Fox- 
boro',  d.  Fe.  28, 1840,   se.  61. 


103 


1807. 

688 

Au.  23. 

689 

"  23. 

690 

"  23. 

691 

«  23. 

692 

"  23. 

693 

«  23. 

694 

«  23. 

695 

"  23. 

696 

"  23. 

697 

"  23. 

698 

Se.  13. 

699 

«  27. 

700 

Oc.  11. 

701 

"  11. 

702 

"  11. 

703 

"  11. 

704 

«  11. 

705 

"  11. 

706 

No.  29. 

707 

"  29. 

708 

«  29. 

709 

"  29. 

710 

"  29. 

711 

"  29. 

712 

"  29. 

713 

"  29. 

1808, 

714 

Fe.  21 

715 

Mh.  13. 

71(3 

"  13. 

717 

"  13. 

f  Hezekiah  Ripley,  (689),  Both  dis.  '09  to  Middlebury  Vt. 
"i  Priscilla  Ripley,  (688)  m.  '92,  o.  Wood,  b.  '76,  dau.  Eph'm, 
f  James  Smith,  mo.  313,  (691),  m.  1766,  d.  Se.  29,  1815. 
j  X.  78th. 

1  Patience  Smith,  (690),  o.  Wood,  fa.  356.  d.  Ma.  12, 1822, 

(  ffi.  76. 

William  Thomas,  fa.  649;  Re.  to  St.  of  Me.  m.  d.  1821,  £e.  34. 
Calvin  Tilson  Jr.,  fa.  652,  unm.  d.  Ju.  19,  1817,  as.  24th. 
Hannah  Tisdale,  (605)  o.  Shaw,  dau.  Elijah  sr.,  sis.  740,  dis. 

1826  toN.  Y.  City. 
Bathsbeba  Tribou,  w.  Melzar,  m.   1789,  o.  Thomas,  dau. 

David  and  Eebecca,  d.  Fe.  13,  1837,  a\  71sl. 
John  Warren,  mo.  659,  br.  832,  (685)  m.  1813,  chi.  1019. 
Lydia  Wood,  w.  Jacob,  ra.   1784,  o.  INIiller,  dau.  John  & 

Zilpha,  sis.  735,d.re.  13,  1849,  a>.  83d, 
Lucy  Wood,  w.  Abner  Jr.  m.  1797,  o.  Thompson,  fa.  581, 

br.  770  sis.  725,  dis.  1831  to  No.  Rochester. 
Lydia  Paddock,  w.  John,  [gr.  fa.  210],  o.  Gushing,  dau.  Col. 

Cushing,  d.  Ma.  30,  1826,  03.  60. 

(  Edward  Thomas,  mo.  509,  (701),  d.  Ja.  16, 1844,  as.  85th. 

■\  Lydia  Thomas,  (700),  1st.  m.  1774?  to  Sam'l  Cushman, 

/  dau.  658,  o.  Gano,  dau.  Jas?  d.  Ju,  8,  1839,  ee.  87th. 

Betsey  Thomas,  w.  Daniel  m.  1793,  o.  Alden,  fa.  427,  dis. 

1847  to  C.  C.  C,  d.  Au.  26,  1849,  x.  76^.' 
Abiah  Sears,  w.  of  Leonard,  1st  h.  Sebra  Simmons,  o.  Leon- 
ard, dau.  Joseph,  d.  1828,  a3.  ab't  55. 
Susanna  Leach,  w.  Joseph,  o.  Sturtevant  of  Hal'x. 
Reuel  Thompson,  s.  Francis,  m.  Thankful  Wood  1802,  [d. 

1843,  X.  66th,  fa.  747J,  d.  Oc.  3,  1851,  x.  75th. 
Nathaniel  Thompson,    fa.  268,  569,  m.    Hannah  Thomas 

1775,  dis.  1819  to  Rehoboth,  d.  Ja.  31,  1833,  x.  82j. 
Jacob  Cobb,  b.  1782,  s.  of  James,  gr.  fa.  628,  m.  Patience 

Barrows  1804.  Re.  in  Hartford  Me. 
(  George  Briggs,  s.  of  Eben'r,  gr.fa.  522,  (709),  He.  &  W. 
J  dis.  1818  to  Hartford  &  Sumner  Me. 

}  Patience  Brigggs,  (708),  1st.  h. —  Holmes,  o.  Clarke. 
(John  Soule,  s.  of  James,  (711),  d.  Ja.  29,  1815,  ae.  66. 
}  Joanna  Soule,  (710),  o.  Perkins,  dau.  of  Eben'r,  sis.  570, 
i  2d.  m.  Nathan  Alden  of  Bridg'r,  1818. 

Sage  Morse,  w.  Wm.,  o.  Staples,  d.  May  21,  1834,  se.  89, 
Maria  Wood,  w.  Joshua,  1st.  h.  Hacket,  o.  Pratt,  br.  646. 


William  Barker,  fa.  545,  unm.  d.  No.  9,  1809,  £e.  22.  (p.  43.) 
f  Daniel  Darling,  s.  of  Benj.,  gr.  fa.  149,  (716),  d.  No.  14, 

;■  '14,  33.   42. 

i  Polly  Darling,  (715)  m.  1795,  o.  Turner,  mo.  603,  sis. 
[  614,  chi.  848,  849,  850,  d.  Ju.  17,  1843,  ae  69. 

Lydia  Terry,  w.  Caleb,  m.  1789,  o.  Darling,  b.  1771,  br. 
715,  (ex.  1824.)  d.  Ja.  5, 1848,  £e.  77tb. 


104 


11808. 

718Mh.  13. 
719   "    13. 


720 
721 


20. 
20. 

722  Ap.    3. 

723  "      3. 


724 
725 
72G 

727 

728 

729 

730 

731 

732 

733 
734 

735 

73G 
737 
738 
739 
740 
741 
742 

743 

744 

745 


3. 
3. 
3. 

3. 

3. 

3, 

Ma.  15, 

15. 
Au.  14, 

14. 
Se.  11. 

"  11. 

"  11. 

«  11. 

"  11. 

"  11. 

Oc.  16. 

"  23 

"  23 

1809. 

Ap.    9. 

"      9 

.Ju.     4 


746  Jy.  23 


(  Zechariali  Eddy,  fa.  633,  br.  682,  944,  sis.  683,  (719.) 
J  Sarah  Eddy,  (718),  o.  Edson,  sis.  853,  gr.  gr.  fa.  226,  & 
(  gr.  gr.  gr.  fa.  32,  d.  Se.  7,  1850,  a;  69th. 

j  John  Atwood,  (721),  d.  Ju.  17,  1839,  ve.  63. 
I  Rhoda  Atwood,  (720),  o.  Johnson,  d.  Oe.  11, 1814,  jb.  39. 
Lydia  Tliompson,  fa.  583,  br.  730,  (1060),  dis.  to  Plymt. 
Lucy  Thompson,  fa.  583,  (935),  m.  1819,  d.  Oc.  13,  1852. 

iu.  G6. 
Mary  Thompson,  fo.  583,  m.  Dr.  E.  Capen,  Re.  in  Boston. 
Irene  Tliompson,  fa.  581,  bi*.  870,  935,  m.  Daniel  Warren. 
Mary  Wilder,  (639),  o.  Bump,  mo.  596,  d.  Mh.  30,  1848, 

a;.  71. 
Mary  Wilder,  br.  639,  m.  Henry  Holmes  1813,  dis  1815  to 

-Alfred  Me.  d.  there  No.  14.  1847,  a\  63d. 
Serena  Hubbard,    w.    Ahira,    o.    Tucker,    mo.    746,    dis. 

1810  to  Wuidsor,  Vt.  (Re-ad  1824.) 
Sybil  Porter,  dau.  of  Isaac  ot    Hal'x,  m.  —   Noyes,  dis. 

1838  to  Plainfield. 
Ezra  Thompson,  fa.  583,  sis.  722,  m.  Cynthia  Gilford,  Re. 

in  New  Bedford. 
Abigail  Sturtevant,  mo.  627,  d.  Dc.  30,  1834,  a;.  51st. 
Samuel  Sampson,  s.  John,  gr.  fa.  193,  sis.  654,  (733),  Dea. 

1826,  d.Jy.  30,  1850,  ffi.  86. 
Lydia  Sampson,  (732),  o.  Holmes,  d.  Se.  13, 1828,  aj.  57th. 

Josiah  Sparrow,  mo.  643,  (735)  m.  1800,  dis.  1827  to 
Rochester,  2d.  m.  wid.  Clarissa  Hayward,  3d  m.  wid- 
Alice  Gushing,  d.  Ja.  25,  1851,  ce  76. 
"^  Minerva  Sparrow,  (734)  o.  Miller,  sis.  697,  d.  Au.  15, 

1839,  Si.  60. 
Jacob  Thomas,  s.  of  Jeremiah,  br.  884,  (737)  m.  1799, 
2d.  w.  Cynthia  Thomas,  [fa.  743].  d.  Mh.  22,  1851,  ».  77. 
Lucy  Thomas,  (736)  o.  Thomas,  mo.  550,  d.  Jy.  10, 1815, 
se.  40th. 
Hope  Thomas,  b.  1787,  mo.  550,  sis.  737,  Re.  to  Hartford 

Me,  m.  Phillip  Ellis,  d.  before  1840. 
Hannah  Tilson,  w.  Sylvanus,  o.  Southworth,  mo.  308,  gr.  fa. 

135,  d.  No.  30,  1821,  te.  66. 
Irene   Standish,  w.  Jonathan,  o.  Shaw,  sis.  694,  br.  Elijah 

sr.,  d.  Fe.  28,  1822,  re.  44. 
Sylvia  Cushman,  w.  Jacob,  m.  1796,  o.  Thompson,  fa,  569, 
sis.  742,  dis.  1829  to  Bristol  R.  I.,  d.  Oc.  13,  1845,  re.  67. 
Abigail  Wood,  w.  Nelson, [br  782,  gr.  mo.  429,]  o.  Thompson, 
fa.  569,  sis.  741,  d.  Mh.  31, 1843,  re.  60. 

(  Sylvanus  Thomas,  fa.  424,  (744),  d.  Au.  30,  1814,  £e.  74. 
■I  Susanna  Thomas,  (743)  m.  1761,  o.  Thompson,  br.  583, 
/  d.  Se.  4,  1822,  re.  79. 

Priscilla  Weston  Jr.,  fa.  7(52,  sis.  777,  778,  m.  Joseph  Tink- 

ham,  dis.  1850  to  Hali'x. 
Jedidah    Tucker,  wid.  of  Nathaniel,  [fa.  164]   ra.  1767,  o. 

Warren,  fa.  343,  chi.  728,  d.  Mh.  25,  1819,  re.  71. 


105 


747 

748 
749 

750 

751 

752 
753 

754 

755 

756 

757 

758 

759 
760 


761 


762 


763 

764 
765 

766 

767 
768 

769 

770 
771 


772 


1809. 

Oc.  22. 

"    22. 
"    22. 

"    22. 

«    22. 

"    22. 
"    22. 

"    22. 
1810. 

Fe.  25. 

Ap.    8 

Jy.    8. 

«      8- 

"    15. 
Oc.  14. 

1811. 

De.  22 

1812. 

Se.     6. 

1813. 

Jy.     4. 

«      4. 
Au.  15. 

"    15. 

Se.  26. 

"    26. 

"    26, 

«    26, 

No.  14, 

"    14. 


Israel  Wood,  fa.  379,  m.  Priscilla  Vaughan,  1772,  [d.  1808, 
.-c.  59th.  fa.  351],  2d.  m.  1810  (564),  d.  Ma.  12th,  1829, 
X.  85th. 

rchabodWood,fa.  379,  (672)  m.  '75,  d.  De.  30, 1825,  fe.  741 

f  Lothrop  Perkins,  fa.  ad.  5,  br.  790,  (750),  dis.  1831  to  N. 

;■  Rochester  ;  a  2d.  m. 

]  Mercy  Perkins,  (749),  o.  Cushman,  mo.  565,  d.  Ap.  30, 

[  1815  ic  34. 

Elizabeth  Wood,  w.  Gorham,  ra.  1709,  o.  Sparrow,  mo.  643, 
sis.  882,  758,  br.  734,  dis    1847,  to  C  C.  C. 

Tlieodate  Wood,  br.  947,.  (792),  d.  Jy.  31,  1828,  ss.  49. 
Susanna  Wilder,  w.  Benaiah,  [he  d.  Ma.   15,  1818,  se.  43, 

br.  639],  o  Bryant,  fa.  636,  d.  Ja.  1,  1818,  se.  39  1 
Priscilla  Cobb,  b.  1770,  mo.  338,  unm.,  d.  in  Vt.  1851. 

Abigail  Bourne,  w.  Abner,  o.  AVilliams  of  Taunton?,  d. 
Ja.  15,  1845,  x.  64. 

Jael  Rider,  w.  Jesse  m.  1804,  o.  Elmes,  b.  1772,  dau.  John, 

gr.  mo.  172,  dis.  1825  to  Plym.,  d. 
Hannah  Tucker,  (635),  o.  Dunbar,  d.  No.  1,  1838,  3d.  83. 

Jerusha  Lovell,  w.  Joseph  m.  1783,  o.  Sparrow,  mo.  643, 
sis.  751,  882,  br.  734,  2d.  m.  (771),  d.  Au.  6,  1843,  os.  77. 
Sally  Curtis  fr.  Plym.,  w.  David,  o.  Clarke. 

Anna  Barker  fr.  Branford  Ct.,  (545),  1st.  h.  Rev.  Jason 
Atwater,  2d.  h.  Rev.  Lynde  Huntington,  o.  Williams, 
dau-  of  Rev.  Warham,  dis.  1816  to  Branford. 

Anna  Eddy  fr.  Plaintield  Ct.,  (682),o.  Andros,  dau.of  Dea. 
Abel  of  P.,  sis.  797,  d.  Jy.  13.  1812,  x.  28. 

John  Weston,  s.  John  &  Content,  mo.  ad.  63,  m.  Elizabeth 
Leonard  1757,  2d.  m.  1776  (571),  d.  No.  15,  1815,  se. 
82.  (p.  62.) 

Mercy  Bennet,  wid.  John,  ra.  1791,  o.  Morton,  dau.  Seth, 

gr.  mo.  127,  d.  Mh.  2,  1826,  se.  57. 
Priscilla  Sturtevant,  mo.  627,  ra.  Robert  Blair  '13.  [d.] 

r  Joseph  Bourne,  fa.  563,  (766),  He  &  w.  dis.  1816  to  N. 
J  Bedford,  d.  there  Ju.  17,  1829,  x.  41st. 

1  Sophia  Bourne  fr.  Fairhaven,  (765),  o.  Bates,  dau.  Dea. 

[  Joseph  of  F.,  Re.  in  Newton  Ms. 

Mercy  Harlow,  mo.  632,  sis.  768,  d.  Mh.  30,  '54,  jb.  84th. 
Betsey  Wood,  w.  Eliab  ra.  1808,  [he  d.  Oc.  12,  1852,  ae. 

71st.,  fa.  747],  o.  Harlow,  mo.  632,  sis.  737. 
Hepzibah  Harlow  fr.  Sandw.,  w.  Sarauel,  o.  Burgess  ;  Re. 
Jabez  Williams,  (785)  ra.  1815,  (ex.  1827).,   Re.  to  Penn. 

John  Tinkham,  fa.  346,  ra.  Mary  Wood  1778,  2d  m.  Lydia 
Wood,  wid.  of  Thomas  1810,  3d.  m.  (758),  d.  Ap.  5, 
1829,  se.  75. 

Thomas  Pratt,  b.  1775,  s.  of  Eben'r,  sis.  610,  624,  (823). 
14 


lOG 


)^ 


773 

774 

775 

776 

777 
778 
779 

780 

781 
782 

783 

784 

785 

786 
787 

788 

789 
790 

791 

792 
793 

794 

795 
796 

797 

798 
799 


1813. 

No.  14, 

"  14 

De.  19, 

"  19, 

"  19, 
'  19, 
"  19. 

1814. 

Ja.  2. 

«  23. 
«  23. 

"  23. 

Ap.  10. 

«  10. 

«  10. 
No.  20. 

"  27. 

1815. 

Ma.  21. 

Se.  17. 

1816. 

Fe.  14. 

Oc.  6. 
No.  17. 

1819. 

Ap.  4. 

Ma.  16. 

"  16. 

Ju.  27. 

"  27. 
"  27. 


William  Gisby,  s.  of  Edw'd.  bi".  928,  gr.gr.  mo.  172,  m.  Ruth 
T.  Bennett  [dau.  of  Thomas  &  Ruth,  gr.  fa.  ad.  4  &  6], 

Hannali  Coade,  dau.  of  Joscjjh  &  Sarah  of  Plymouth,  dis. 
1837  to  Dunkirk  N.  Y.  (Re-ad.  1840). 

Mercy  Bennet,  w.  Jacob,  [fa.ad,6.],m.  1780,  o.  Porter,  mo. 
620,  sis.  82.'),  d  Jy.  6,  1847,  33.  85. 

Sarah  Porter,  dau.  Zacha'h.,  gr.  mo.   G20,  Re.,  m.  Dr.  — 

Brown  of  Pa.;  now  a  wid. 
Hannah  Weston,  fa.  7G2,  sis.  745,  unm.,  d.  Ja.  6.  1840,  os.  49. 
Salome  Weston,  fa.  7G2,  mo.  571,  sis,  745,  777,  (802). 
Eunice  Sturtevant,  mo.  627,  unm.,  d.  Ma.  14,  1815,   ss.  22. 

Jacob    Bennet  2d.,  s.   Eben'r.  Livy,  (794),  d.   Au.  20,  '50, 

a;.  76. 
Orin  Tinkham,  fa.  771,  m.  Achsa  Townsend,  Re.  in  Me. 
Temperance  Burgess,  m.  Levi  Wood  1814,  [s.  of  Levi,  gr. 

mo.  429],  dis.  1837  to  Fall  River. 
Ichabod    Wood  2d.,  fa.  747,  sis.   661;  Re.   to  Ind.  m.  bef. 

1823,  Left  4  chi.;  d.  Oc.  31,  1830,  £e.  42. 

Mary  Wood,   (SOI),  o.  Weston,  dau.  Abner  and  Huldah, 

gr.  mo.  539,  gr.  gr.  fa.  231,  d.  Se.  30,  1827,  se.  40. 
Serena  Thomas,  dau.  Seth,  sis.   738,  gr.  mo.   ad.  85,  (770), 

m.  1815,  dis.  1833  to  Pittsburg  Pa. 
Lucy  Swift,  w.  Joseph  sr.,  o.  Cornish,  fa.  593,  sis.  985. 
Mercy  King,  dau.  John   &   Elizabeth,   gr.  mo.  384,  m.  Jo- 

sephus  Bump  1814,  d.  Se.  19,  1818,  x.  29? 
Elizabeth  Barker,  fa.  545,  mo.  579,  br.  714,  dis.   1827  to 

Freetown;  d.  in  Chicago,  111.  Ap.  5,  1854,  ie.  63d. 

Hepzibah  Morton  fr.  Salsbury  Vt.,  dau.  Seth  jr.,  gr.  gr.  mo. 

127,  sis.  1061,  dis.  1840  to  N.  Bedford,  d.  Ma.  16,  1848? 

sd.  50? 
John    Perkins,  fa.   ad.  5,  br.    749,    m.    Sarah  Snow,  2  m. 

(1043),  dis.  1825  to  N.  Rochester.  (Re-ad.  1845). 

REV.  EMERSON  PAINE,  6th  Pastor,  m.  Lydia  Pendle- 
ton, Re.  1822,  d.  Ap.  26,  1851,  a\  65,  (p.  43.) 

Leonard  Elmes  fr.  Abbeville  S.  C,  fa.  817,  (752),  (ex.  1827), 
Re.  in  Dighton,  2d.  m.  Stephens. 

James  Sprout,  s.  Robert  jr.,  gr.  gr.  fo.  135,  (827)  m.   1800, 

Dea.  1833,  d.  Ap.  15,  1837.  je.  63d.   (p.  72). 

Rebecca  Bennet,  (780)  ra.  1802,  o.  Wood  dau.  Amos,  sis. 
638,  dis,  1828  to  No.  Rochester,  d.  Ma.  24, 1846,  aj.  67th. 
Fanny  D.  Sturtevant,  mo,  627,  unm.,  d.  De.  22, 1845,  va.  48. 
Joanna  Tilson,  fa.  652,  mo.  653,  br.  693,  sis.  873. 
Abby  Eddy,  (682),  o.  Andros,  sis.  761,  d.  Oc.  28,  1848, 

cB.  55th. 

Julia  Paddock,  mo.  699,  unm.,  d.  Ju.  6,  1849,  a?.  50th. 
Sylvea  Fuller,  mo.  647,  sis.  685,  br.  1050. 


10' 


800 
801 

802 
803 

V804 
805 

806 

80 
808 

809 

810 
811 

812 
813 

814 

815 

81G 

\817 
NC818 
819 
820 
821 
822 
823 
824 
825 

826 
827 

828 
829 
830 
831 
832 
833 


1819] 

Ju.   27.  Elizabeth  Wood,  mo.  751,  m.  CoUester  Wood  [d.  1850]. 
All.  15.  Horatio  G.  Wood,  s.  of   Eben'r.,  br.  947,  sis.  752,  gr.  mo. 
429,  (784,  836),  Dm.  1842,  (lis.  1847  to  C.  C.  C.  with  32 
otliers. 
15.  Ebcnezer  Willis,  sis.  876,  (778),  d.  Ja.  20,  1840.  ce.  49. 
15.  Eliphalet  Doggett,  s.  of  Mark,  m.  Sybil  Peabody,  dis.  1828 
to  E.  Brid'r.,  2(i.  m.  —  Keith,  Re.  in  N.  Bedford. 
Eliphalet  Elmes  Jr.,  fa.  817,  (854),  Re.  in  Taunton.     -u,_ 


Oc.  — . 
1820. 

Ja.  11. 

1823. 

Se.  — . 


Oc.  19 

"    19 

"    19, 

"    19. 
"    19. 

"     19. 
"    19. 

"    19. 

"    19 

"    19. 

"  19. 

"  19 

"  19. 

"  19. 

"  19. 

"  19. 

"  19. 

"  19. 

"  19. 


Deliverance  Littlejohn,  w.  Wm.  m.  '94,  o.  Muxham,   dau. 
Jn.,  Admitted  at  her  house,  d.  Ja.  11,  1820,  te.  51st. 


i( 

19. 

ii 

19. 

(I 

19. 

u 

19. 

ii 

19. 

i( 

19. 

ii 

19. 

ii 

19. 

Susanna   Tinkham,  fa.  663,  Admitted   at  her   house,  unm., 

d.  De.  30,  1823,  ffi. 
Josiali  Clarke,  m.  Hannah  Harlow,  d.  Ma.  3,  1839,  se.  95. 
Mary  Clarke,  mo,  845,  sis.  809,  ra.   Edward  Stetson  1827, 

dis.  1828  to  N.  Bedford,  d.  Oc.  13,  1836,  ts.  37th. 
Deborah  P.  Clarke,  mo.  845,  sis.  808,  gr.  fa.  807,  m.  Geo. 

Thompson  1826,  [his  fa,  583],  d.  Mh.  23.  1853,  m.  55. 
(  Abiel  Washburn,  s.  Edward,  (811),  d.  Ju.  17, 1843,  si.  80^. 
■<  Elizabeth  Washburn,  (810)  m.  1788,  o.  Pierce,  dau.  Job, 
(^  sis.  895,  d.  Mh.  23,  1850,  sa.  84. 

Abigail  Washburn,  fo.  810,  dis.  1851  to  C.  C.  C. 
Caroline  Washburn,  fa.  810,  m.  Rev.  Francis  Horton,  dis. 
1833  to  Brookfield  Ms.,  d.at  W.Camhr'ge  Se.20,1849,£e.42f 
Louisa  Jane  Washburn,  ia.  810,  m.   Rev.   Elam  Smalley, 

dis.  1832  to  Franklin  Ms.,  Re  in  Worcester,  Ms. 
Louisa  Bourne,  mo.  895,  sis.  870,  m.  Alexander  Wood  1824, 

[fa.  748],  Re.  in  Hanover,  Ms. 
HiLLiARD  Bryant,  s.  of  Seth,  gr.  mo.    673,  dis.   1827  to 

(  Eliphalet  Elmes  sr.,'fa.'624,  (818),  d.  Au.  4,  '30,  se.  77th. 

I  Chloe  Elmes,  (817)  m.  '77,  o.  Leonard,  d.  Jy.  5,'43,a3.86th. 
Jane  Finney,  mo.  657,  m.  Eber  Beal,  d.  Jy.  7, 1825,  ae.  26th. 
Hannah  Freeman,  mo.  856,  unm.,  d.  Se.  22,  1842,  a?.  59. 
Miriam  Littlejohn,  mo.  805,  sis.  86l,  gr.  gr.  mo.  163. 
Job  Lucas,  s.  of  Samuel,  m.  Mary  Morse. 
Lydia  Pratt,  (772),  o.  Macomber,  dau.  Simeon,  sis.  854. 
Phebe  Pratt,  w.  Zerubbabel,  o.  Stone,  d.  Mh.  4,  '45,  as.  49. 
Bathsheba  Sparrow,  ^v.  Edward,  [d.  No.  18,  '53,  se.  86th,] 
ra.  1798,  o.  Porter,  mo.  620,  sis.  775,  d.  Mh  27,  1853,  se.  80th. 
Josiah  0.  Standish,  s.  Joshua  sr.,  Re.,  m..  Re.  in  Plymouth. 
Lucy  Sproat,  (793)  o.  Clarke,  dau.  Dr.  Joseph  &  Rebecca, 

[sis.  544]  gr.  gr.  mo.  127,  d.  De.  7,  1849,  a;.  69. 
Joseph  Swift  jr.,  mo.  786,  unm.,  d.  Oc.  9,  1829,  se.  20. 
Mercy  Swift,  mo.  78G,  m.  Ich.  ShurtlifF,  dis.  '43  to  Carv. 
Lucy  Swift  jr.,  mo.  786,  ra.  W.  Taylor  of  Pembroke,  Re. 
Elizabeth  Tinkham,  fa.  663,  unm.,  d.  Mh.  28,  1846,  33.  74. 
(  James  Warren,  br.  696,  (833),  He  &  W.  dis.  '47  to  C.C.C. 
I  Margaret  Warren,  (832)  o.  Finney,  mo.  657,  sis.  819. 


108 


834 

835 
836 

837 

838 

839 
840 

841 
842 
843 
844 
845 

846 

847 


1823. 

Oc.  19, 

"    19, 
«    19. 

«    19. 
"    19, 

"    19, 
No.  23, 

"  23, 

"  23, 

«  23, 

"  23, 

"  23, 

"    23, 
"    23, 


848 

u 

23 

849 

u 

23 

850 

(( 

23 

851 

« 

23 

852 

(( 

23 

853 

(C 

23 

854 

a 

23 

855 

u 

23 

856 

i( 

23 

857 

C( 

23 

858 

« 

23 

859 

(C 

23 

860 

11 

23 

861 

i( 

23 

862 

(( 

23 

863 

(( 

23 

864 

u 

23. 

865 

(( 

23. 

866 

u 

23. 

867 

(( 

23. 

868 

11 

23. 

(  Thomas  Weston  sr.,  s.  Edmund  jr.,  gr.  fa.  231,  (835),  d. 

J  Ja.  17,  1834,  a;.  64. 

(  Abigail  Weston,  (834),  o.  Doggett,  d.  Au.  11, 1830,  ae.  55. 
Abigail  Weston  Jr.,  fa.  834,  (801)  m.  1830,  dis.  1847  lo  C. 

C.  C,  d.  Ja.  7,  1854,  x.  53d. 

Bethania  Weston,  fa.  834,  m.  Eai-l  Sproat,  [fa.  868]. 
Lavinia  Weston,  fa.  834,  m.  Eeland  Tinkham  [d.Ma.  2,  '54, 
X  .50.];  his  and  her  gr.  gr.  mo.  595 ;  d.  Oc.  15,  1849,  te.  41st. 
Thomas  Weston  Jr.,  fa.  834,  gr.  gr.  fa.  231,  (851). 
Francis  Atwood,  s.  Wm.,  m.  Elizabeth  Ward,  dau.  Benj'n., 

2d.  m.  Abigail  Shurtliff,  d.  Ja  22,  1853,  se.  79. 
Shadrach  Atwcod,  fa.  840,  Re.,  m..  Re.  in  Franklin,  Ms. 
(  Martin  Buss,  (843),  Re. 
I  Eliza  Buss,  (842),  Re. 

Joseph  Chamberlain,  d.  in  Plymt.  Oc.  6,  1825. 
Elizabeth  Clarke,  w.  Joseph,  m.  1791,  o.  Morton,  dau.  of 
John,  gr.  mo.  127,  d.  Mh.  19,  1840,  as.  70. 

Otis  T.  Cobb,  mo.  684,  dis.  1834  to  Amherst,  Ms.,  m.  Maria 

Cady,  dau.  of  Squire  of  Ct.  Re.  in  Plainfield,  Ct. 
Adaline  Cobb,  mo.  684,  br.  846,  m.  Heman  Cobb,  dis.  1840 

to  Plym.  Re.  ad.  1853. 
Alan.son  Darling,  fa.  715,  sis.  849,  850,  (857). 
Hannah  H.  Darling,  fa.  715,  m. —  Spaulding,  dis.  1837  to 

Lempster,  N.  H. 
Aurilla  Darling,  fa.  715,  m.  Hiram  Fletcher,  dis.  1832  to 

Lempster,  N.  H. 
Thalia  Eddy,  fa.  944,  br.  967,  sis.  955,  968,  969,  (839). 
Ann   Juliett  Eddy,  fa.  718,  sis,  988,  m.  Samuel  Barrett, 

dis.  1833,  to  Cambridge,  Re.  in  Newton,  Ms. 
Charlotte  Edson,  sis.  719,  Re.  in  Titicut. 
Lavinia  Elmes,  (804),  o.  Macomber,  sis.  823,  d.  Oc.  29  ? 

1836,  ie.  29? 
Louisa  Elmes,  fa.  817,  m.  Samuel  G.  Drake  of  Boston. 
Mercy  Freeman,  w.  Elisha,  o.  Eddy,  fa.  341,  d.  Au.  19, 

1828,  i-e  82. 
Lauretta  Ann  Fuller,  gr.  mo.  647,  (848). 
Rufus  Holmes,  s.  of  Zaccheus,  (861)  dis.  1828  to  War'm.,  d. 

Mh.  20,  1839,  ae.  35. 
George  L.  Holmes,  mo.  860,  Re.,  m..  Re.  in  Tenn. 
Eunice  Holmes,  w.  Peleg,  o.  Wood,  dis.  1840  to  N.  Bridg'r. 
Hannah  Littlejohn,  mo.  805,  (858),  dis.  1828  to  War'm. 
Lendall  P.  Morton,  br.  662,  (904),  d.  Ja.  11, 1843,  re.  46th. 
Nathan  Perkins  Jr.,  gr.  gr.  mo.  172,  (1023)  2d.  m.  Mrs. 

Sias,  o.  Dean,  dis.  1847  to  C.  C.  C. 
Olive  Pratt,  fa.  772,  br.  1032,  m.  Darius  Wentworth,  dis. 

1835  to  Bridg'r.    He  d.,  she  Re.  there. 
Lydia  Smith,  dau.  Jabez,  sis.  1051,  gr.  gr.  fa.  161. 
James  Soule  4th,  aged  12  yrs.,  s.  Wm.,  gr.  fa.  664,  (1052) 
Ruth  Soule,  w.  Isaac  o.  Fuller,  d.  Se.  30,  1849,  a?.  69th. 
Thomas  Sproat,  fa.  323,  (883)  d.  Fe.  3,  1833,  x.  75. 


109 


869 
870 

871 

872 

873 
874 
875 

876 

877 


878 

879 
880 

881 

(728) 

882 

883 
884 

885 
886 

887 
888 

889 

890 

891 
892 

893 

894 


1823, 

No.  23, 
"    23, 

«    23, 
"    23, 

"    23, 

"    23, 
"    23, 

"    23, 
"    23, 

1824. 

Ja.     7, 


Ap. 


"      4, 
Mh.  10, 

Jy.    4, 

1825 

Se.     9, 


"       9. 

1826. 

Ja.   22. 

Jj.     2. 
Se.  21. 

1827. 

De.    2. 

1829. 

Jy.     5. 


Daniel  Thomas,  mo.  702,  m.  Phebe  Thomas,  '25,  Re.  in  Pa. 
Arad  Thompson,  fa.  581,  br.  935,  sis.  698,  725,  m.  Mercy 

Bourne,  [her  mo.  SO.'j,  sis.  815],  d.  Ap.  22,  1843,  x.  56. 
Marietta  T.  Thompson,  ia.  935,  br.  926,  sis.  872,  927. 
Cordelia  Thompson,  fa.  935,  sis.  871,  m.  Benj'n.  Bryant, 

He.  in  Philadelphia. 
Judith  Tilson,  fa.  652,  br.  693,  unm.  d.  Ja.  22, 1836,  ae.  30|. 
Betsey  L.  Wing,  mo.  880,  m.  Elij.  Burgess,  dis.  '47  to  C.  C  C. 
James  D.  Wilder,  a3.  15th  year,  fa.  639,  (1001),  dis.  1847 

to  C.  C.  C. ;  Dea.  tliere,  d.  Fe.  7,  1854,  x.  45th. 
Jane  Willis,  dau.  Eben'r  and  Joanna  of  Bridgwater,  br.  802. 
Lydia  Wood,  dau.  Timothy,  br.  1014,  gr.  gr.  mo.  429,  gr. 

gr.  gr.  fa.  135,  m.  Caleb  Bassett,  Ke.  iu  W.  P. 

Jabez  Fuller  fr.  Wrenthara,  mo.  673,  sis.  674,  (879), 

he  and  W.  dis.  1826  to  Berkley.    They  Ec.  in  Ver. 
Sally  P'^uller  fr.  Plymt.,  (878),  o.  Churchill. 

Lura  Wing  fr.  War'm.,  wid.  of  Ansel,  o.  Leonard,  dau.  of 
Archippus,  gr.  mo.  338,  d  De.  15,  1851,  a;.  71. 

Susan  B.  Fuller  fr.  Plainfield  Ct.,  w.  Zachariah,  [his  mo. 
673,  br.  878],  o.  Barstow,  d.  in  Plainfield,  Ct. 

Serena  Hubbard  fr.  Windsor,  Vt.,  o.  Tucker,  gr.  fa.  164, 
dis.  1838 to  Chicago,  111. and  Re.  there;  vvid.of  Ahira. 

Susanna  Miller,  wid.  John  [d.  Jy.  16,  '18  te.  47th,]  m.  '92, 
(652),  o.  Sparrow  b.  1772.  mo.  643,  br.  734,  sis,  751. 

Mary  Sproat,  (868),  o  Briggs,  d.  Sep.  3,  1834,  a?.  73. 

Silas  Thomas,  s.  of  Jer'h,  gr.  mo.  387,  484,  br.  736,  m.  Mary 
Shurtliff,  d.  Au.  10.  1834,  a;.  G9th. 

Eleazer  Thomas,  s.  of  Eleazer,  gr.  fa.  350,  (920). 

REV.   WILLIAM    EATON  fr.  Fitchburg,  7th  Pastor, 

(890),  dis.  1834,  d.  April  15,  1840,  x  56  ;  (p.  44.) 
Azcl  Thomas,  mo.  892,  sis,  894,  gr.  gr.  fa.  428,  298,  m. 
Harriet  Thompson  1837,  d.  Mh.  31,  1844,  x.  47th. 

Elizabeth  Leonard  fr.  Plym.,  w.  of  Eph'm.,  1st  h.  Geo. 

Churchill,  o.  Harlow,  dau.  of  Seth  and  Sarah  iVarren,* 

Dea.  Nath'l.^  Benfn^  Bichard  of  the  M.  P.,  d.  De.  28, 

1846,  X.  78.' 
Lucy  W.  Morse  fr.  Nor.  Bridg'r.,  dau.  of  Sam'l,  br.  1016, 

1053,  gr.  fa.  549,  m.  Edw'd.  Adams. 

Lydia  Eaton  fr.  Fitchburg,  (886),  o.  Sanford,  dis.  1834, 
d.  in  Worcester  Ms.,  Mh.  25,  1850,  x.  55. 

Ruth  Morse,  w.  of  Levi,  o.  Savery,  dis.  1839  to  Carv. 

Phebe  Thomas,  w.  Azel,  m.  1796,  o.  Ellis,  dau.  of  Geo.,  gr. 
mo.  623,  d.  in  the  St.  of  Me.  Feb.  3,  1851,  aj.'76. 

Mary  Freeman,  (676),  o.  Cole,  dau.  of  Job,  sis.  917,  1081 
dis.  1846,  to  Carv.,  d.  Ju.  13.  1852,  x.  65th. 

Betsey  Thomas,  mo.  892,  m.  Sam'l  Ellis,  dis.  '33  to  War'm. 


110 


895 
8'J6 

1829. 

Se.  27 
«  27 

897 

"   27 

898 
899 

"  27 
"  27 

900 
901 
902 

"  27 
"  27. 
"  27. 

903 

No.  8. 

904 

"   8. 

905 
90(] 
907 
908 

"   8. 
"   8. 
"   8. 
"   8. 

909 

1830. 

Ja.  20. 

910 

Ap.  2. 

911 

Au.  1. 

912 

De.  5. 

913 
914 

"   5. 
1831. 

Ju.  5. 

915 

(( 

5. 

91G 

(.' 

5. 

917 

(( 

5. 

918 

a 

5. 

919 

a 

5. 

920 

ii 

5. 

921 

u 

5. 

922 

u 

5. 

923 

a 

5. 

924 

Ju. 

5. 

925 

a 

5. 

92fi 

a 

5. 

Lucy  Bourne,  v,'.  Wm.,  o.  Pierce,  dan.  Job,  tils.  '48  to  C  C.  C. 
f  Ebenezer  Pickens,  son  oi'  Sam'l,  (897),  he  and  w.  dis.'47  to 
.;  C.  C.  C. 

^,  Mary  B.  Pickens,  (89 G,)  o.  Thompson,  dau.  Benj'n.  sis. 
[  931,  947,  gr.  fa.  .563,  gr.  gr.  fa.  ad.  4. 

Lydia  M.  Eddy,  (944),  o.  Morton,  dau.  Joshua,  sis.  971. 
Polly  W.  Caswell,  w.  Eleazer,  o.  Cobb,  dau.  of  Lemuel,  gr. 

gr.  fa ,  3C3. 
Jane  Standisli,  w.  John,  o.  Churchill  dau.  Elias  ;  Ee. 
Barbara  Tinkham,  dau.  Eben'r.  gr.  fa.  592. 
Lauretta  Wing,  mo.  880,  m.  Wm.  T.  Estes,  dis.  1843,  to 

Taunton,  d.  in  Sandwich,  Ue.  24,  1852,  x.  43. 
Olive  T.  Cobb,  dau.  Levi,   gr.  fa.    G28,   gr.  mo.  550,  m. 

Philander  Hackct,  d.  Au.  12,  1850,  a'.  40. 
Eliza  S.  Morton,  (8G2),  m.  1824,  o.  Hacket,  dau.  George, 

sis.  924,  br.  903,  d.  Ja.  12,  1843,  ce.  38. 
Mary  Norcutt,  mo.  622,  rn.  Dan'l  Dunham,  dis.  '47  to  C.C.C. 
j  Samuel  Pool,  (907)  ;  they  Re.  in  South  Abington. 
(LydiaPool,  (906),  o.  Cox. 
Betsey  Warren,  w.  Galen,  [he  d.  Ju.  19,  1853,  a^  55  ;  br. 

G9G],  o.  Tribou,  mo.  G95,  gr.  gr.  fa  298. 

Sarah  Jackson  fr.  Windsor  Vt.,  dau.  of  Joseph  sr.,  gr.  fa. 

335,  dis.  1847  to  C.  C.  C. 
Hannah  D.  Morton  fr.  Shoreham  Vt.,  fa.  ad.  10,  br.  662, 

862,  m.  Horatio  N.  Wilbur,  d.  Jy.  26,  184C,  x.  37th. 
Lucy  C.  Wood  fr.  Scitu.,  (947,)  m.  '27  1st.  m.  —  Gushing, 

o.  Nichols,  dis.  1847  to  C.  C.  C,  d.  Se.  26,  1848,  re.  61st. 
Susanna   Tucker,  w.  Daniel   [fa.  327],  o.  Thoinpson,  dau. 

Nathan,  gr.  mo.  ad.  64, 16  chi.  fr.  '83,  d.  Fe.  25,  '50,  a\86th. 
Mandana  Tucker,  mo.  912,  gr.  gr.  mo.  ad.  64. 

Freeman  Barrows,  mo.  971,  dis.  1832  to  N.  Bedford,  Re. 

in  Mo. ;  m. 
Betsey  Eddy,  w.  Eben'r,  [fa.  633],  o.  Stetson,  dau.  Caleb, 
Betsey  M.  Eddy,  mo.  915,  gr.  fa.  633,  m.  Amasa  Thompson 

[gr.  gr.  gr.  fa.  9],  d.  No.  17,  1851,  a;.  38. 
Hannah   Thomas,  wid.   of  Ezra,    [gr.  fa.  425],   o.    Cole, 

dau.  of  Job,  sis.  893,  d.  Jy.  5  1  1853,  re.  63. 

f  Seneca  Thomas,rn.  649, br.  923,  sis.  921,  (919)  Vea.,  1852. 

(  Hope  Thomas,  (918),  o.  Faunce,  dau.  Ansel,  gr.  mo.  433. 

Eunice  Thomas,  (885),  o.  Shurtliff,  dau.  Gideon. 

Anna  Thomas,  w.  Andrew,  [d.  1853,  te.  75th.  mo.  550],  o. 

Thomas,  fa.  649.  br.  918,  d.  Ap.  12,  1833,  re.  49. 
Lucia  Ann  Thomas,  fa.  885,  unm.,  d.  No.  30,  1836,  £e.  20. 
Winslow   Thomas,  fa.  649,   br.  918,  m.  Charity  Thomas, 

[dau.  of  Isaiah,  sis.  1077],  d.  No.  14,  1843,  re.  52. 
Huldah  Thomas,  w.  of  Benj'n,  o.  Hacket,  dau.  of  Geo.  sis. 

904,  d.  Se.  25,  1852,  re.  60th. 
Nathan  King,  m.  Ellen  Thompson,  dis.  1847  to  C.  C.  C. 
Charles  F.  Thompson,  fa.  935,  sis.  927,  d.  Se.  3,  '39,  se.  23. 


Ill 


927 

1831. 

Ju.      5. 

928 
929 

Au.    7. 

"      7. 

930 
931 

"      7. 
"      7. 

932 

"      7. 

933 

934 

«      7. 

"      7. 

935 
93G 

1832. 

Ap.    1. 
Oc.  17. 

(626) 

937 

1833. 

Ma.    5. 
Ju.     2. 

938 

«      2. 

939 

1835. 

Oc.  28. 

940 

1836. 

Ja.     3. 

941 

Mh.   6. 

942 

«      6 

943 

No.    6 

944 
945 
946 

1837. 

Mh.    5 

«      5 
«      5 

947 

Ma.    7 

948 

Ma.    7 

949 

«      7. 

950 
951 
952 

"      7. 

"      7. 

Ju.     2. 

Floranllia  Tliompsoii,  fa.  935,  br.  92G,  sis.  871,  872,  m. 

Granville  T.  Sproat,  dis.  '39  to  La  Poiiite,  L.  S. 
Thomas  Gisby,  br.  773,  m.  Mehetabel  Daniels. 
Simeon  Staples,  s.  of  Eben'r  of  Taunton,  m.  Lydia  Sampson, 

[her.  fa.  732],  d.  Ja.  17,  1833,  x.  SU- 
Susanna  Cushman,  w.  Adoniram,  o.  Bump,  mo.  596. 
Freelove  G.  Rounseville,  w.  Gamaliel,  o.  Thompson  dau. 

of  Benj'n,  sis.  897,  gr.  mo.  .585,  dis.  1847  to  C.  C.  C. 
Mary  Jane   Eastman  fr.   Brunswick  ]Me.,  m.  Kev.  Sam'l 

Utley,  dis.  1838  to  So.  New  Marlboro' 
Betsey  Tinkham  fr.  AVrentham,  w.  of  Geo.  W.,  o.  Cole. 
Matilda  AVood,  (1014),  o.  Thompson,  dau.  of  Samuel  and 
Clara,  br.  916 ;  dis.  1852  to  C.  C.  C. 

Cephas  Thompson,  fa.  581,  m.  Olivia  Leonard,  (2d.  w.  723). 
David  Harlow   fr.  Brookfield,  s.  Jesse,  m.  —  Finney,  Re. 
in  Plymouth. 

Desire  Morse  from  Halif'x.,  unm.,  d.  De.  29,  1851,  a;.  80. 
Ruth  Reed,  w.   Sam'l.,  o.  Sampson,  dau.  Icho.  dis.  '47  to 

C.  C.  C. 
Harvey  Tinkham,  s.  of  Hazael,  gr.  gr.  fa.  148,  (985);  2d. 
m.  —  Ramsdell. 

REV.  ISRAEL  W.  PUTNAM  fr.  Portsmouth,  N.  H., 
8th  Pastor,  s.  of  Eleazer  of  Dan  vers,  1st  m.  Harriot 
Osgood,  2nd.  m.  (941),  chi.  1006,  1036,  1057;  (p.  44). 

Sabina  Willis  fr.    Hal'x.,  w.   Martin,  o.   Thompson,  dau. 

Isaac  sr.,  br.  981,  gr.  gr.  gr.  fa.  9,  dis.  1849  to  Hal'x. 
Juha  Ann  Putnam  fr.  Portsm'h.  N.H.,  (939),  o.  Osgood,  dau. 

of  Sam'l  and  Maria  of  N.  Y.,  1st.  h.  S.  Osgood  jr.,  chi. 942. 
Adeline  H.  Osgood  fr.  Portsmouth  N.  H.,  mo  941,  m.  Wm. 

C.  Eddy,  [s.  of  Wm.  S.,  gr.  fa  633.] 
Caroline  M.  Pickens,  fa.  896,  mo.  897,  dis.  '47  to  C.  C.  C, 

m.  John  McCloud ;  two  brs.  and  h.  on.  p.  69. 

Joshua  Eddy,  fa.  633,  br.  682,  718,  sis.  683,  (898). 

Harriet  Hill,  came  fr.  and  returned  to  Boston. 

Elizabeth  H.  Washburn,  w.  Philander,  o.  Homes,  dau.  of 

Henry  and  Dorcas  of  Boston,  dis.  1847  to  C.  C.  C. 
Wilkes  Wood,   s.    Eben'r.,  br.   801,  m.  Betsey  Tinkham 

1798,  [gr.  fa.  345];  2d.  w.  Betsey  Thompson,  3d.  w 

(911),  d.  Oc.  1,  184.3,  x.  73. 

Charles  AY.  AVood,  fa.  947,  dis,  1839  to  Ashby  (p.55),  m. 

Eliza  Ann  Bigelow,  2d.  m.  Catharine  Lemist,o.  Clarke 
Emily  Louisa  Wood,  fa.  947,  br.  948,  953,  sis.  950,  951,  or." 

gr.  gr.  fa.  ad  4,  dis.  1847,  to  C.  C.  C.  ° 

Mary  T.  Wood,  fa.  947,  m.  Russell  L.  Hathaway  ;  Re.  in  Ind. 
Sally  Leonard,  w.  Jas.,  o.  AVood,  fa.  947,  d.  Ja.  1846,  sd.  43d. 
Irene  Soule,  w.  Otis,  o.  Cushman,  dan.  Jacob,  of  Plymt, 


112 


11837 

95.S 

Se. 

3 

1838 

954 

Jy. 

1 

955 

Se. 

2 

956 

(( 

2 

957 

(( 

2 

958 

a 

2 

959 

(( 

2 

960 

u 

2 

961 

u 

2 

962 

No. 

4. 

1839. 

963 

Ja. 

4. 

(673) 

Jy. 

6. 

1840. 

964 

Jy. 

5. 

(774) 

u 

5. 

965 

ii 

5. 

966 

Se. 

6. 

967 

a 

6. 

968 

<( 

6. 

969 

i( 

6. 

970 

i( 

6. 

971 

a 

6. 

972 

n 

6. 

973 

« 

6. 

974 

(( 

6. 

975 

<( 

6. 

976 

i( 

6. 

977 

i( 

6 

978 

u 

6. 

979 

ii 

6. 

980 

(( 

6. 

981 

C( 

6. 

982 

5» 

6 

983 

No. 

1. 

984 


William  Henry  Wood,  fa.  947,  br.  948,  sis.  949,  950. 

Mary  Ann  Orringlon,  came  from  and  returned  to  Boston. 
Jane  Ellen  Eddy,  fa.  944,  br.  967,  sis.  851,  969,  m.  Timothy 

Cobb,  dig.  1842  to  Carv  ,  Re.  in  Fall  River. 
Lucy  Harrington,  w.  Isaac,  o.  Raymond,  dau.  Joshua. 

J  Lothrop  Thomas  Jr.,  mo.  1073,  gr.  gr.  fa.  350,  (958). 

(  Louisa  Faunce  Thomas,  (957),  o.  Thomas,fa.  918,br.l071. 
Saba  S.  Thomas,  fa.  885,  unm.,  d.  De.  18,  1845,  vs.  25. 
Mary  Ann  Thomas,  mo.   921,  m.  Soranus  Wrightington. 
Mary  II.  Thomas,  w.  Albert,  o.  Churchill,  dau.  Edmund. 
Mary  Reed  Atvvood,  w.  Daniel,  o.  Whitmarsh,  dau.  Wm. 

Betsey  L.  Pratt  fr.  Bridgwater,  w.  Simeon  o.  Leach,  dau. 

of  Levi,  of  Bridg'r,  br.  1048,  d.  Ap.  19,  1839,  x.  27. 
Lucy  Fuller  from  Fairhaven,  d.  Se.  13,  1839,  a3.  81|. 

EHab  Dean,  s.  of  Seth  of  Raynham,  (986),  chi.  987. 
Hannah  Coade  fr.  Dunkirk  N.  Y. 
Sarah  Lawrence,  w.'  Dan'l,  o.  Custens,  dau  of  Thomas. 
Mary  Ann  Colwell,  dau.  Eben'r.,  m.  Eben'r.  Fuller,  Hal'x. 
Charles  E.  Eddy  fr.  N.  Bedford,  fa.  944,  dis.  1847  to  Provi- 
dence, m.  Elizabeth  Simmons  of  Prov. 

Eliza  Eddy,  fa.  944,  mo.  898,  br.  967,  sis.  851,  955,  969. 
Susan  M.  Eddy,  fa.  944,  mo.  898,  br.  967,  sis.  851,  968,  955. 
Ann   Elizabeth  Eddy,  fa.  682,  mo.  797,  sis.  1010,  (976), 
dis.  1844  to  Bahimore,  Md. 

Susanna  M.   Ellis,   (680),   1st   h.    Freeman   Barrows,  o. 

Morton,  sis.  898,  s.914,  dis.  1844  to  N.  Bedford. 
Jane  Freeman,  mo.  1061,  sis.  1055, 1056,  gr.  mo.  856,  (997), 

Re.  in  No.  Bridgcwater. 
Jerusha  Haskins,  w.  Job,  o.  Raymond. 
Lucia  Maria  Nichols,  w.  James  G.,  o.  Cole,  dau.  Lemuel, 

gr.  fa.  665. 

Harriet  Orcutt,  w.  Alpheus,  o.  Soule,  mo.  867  ;  Re.  in.  W.  P. 
William  Pratt,  s.  of  Simeon,  (970),  dis.  '42  to  Bait.  Md. 
Mahala  Smith,  w.  Earl,  1st  h.  Alfred  Soule,  o.  Shaw,  fa.  654, 

dis.  1845  to  Manchester  N.  H. 
Isaac  Soule,  3d,  mo.  867,  m.  Polly  Fuller,  dau.  of  Sam'l. 
Priscilla  Soule,  mo.  867,  m.  S.  M.  Stephens,  Re.  in  Boston. 
Rebecca  Soule,  mo.  867,  br.  978,  sis.  975,  979. 
Anna  T.  Thompson,  fa.  705,  br.  996,  gr.  fa.  747,  m.  Isaac 

Thompson  Jr.,  d.  in.  Hal'x.  Ma.  11.  1852,  se.  38th. 

Eunice  Washburn,  w.  Lewis,  o.  Leonard,  dau.  Jonathan. 
Henry  Dunham  fr.  Carv.,  s.  of  Israel  of  Carv.,  m.  Louisa 

Jane  Pratt,  [fa.  772,  sis.  864] ;  dis.  1850  to  C.  C.  C. 
Lucia  C.  Ellis,  w.  Southworth  Jr.,  o.  Thomas,  dau.  Noah, 

gr.  fa.  350. 


1840. 


085 

No. 

1. 

1841. 

986 

la. 

4. 

987 

.( 

4. 

988 

<( 

4. 

989 

a 

4. 

990 

n 

4. 

991 

a 

4. 

992 

u 

4. 

993 

u 

4. 

994 

u 

4 

995 

(( 

4. 

996 

(( 

4. 

997 

(( 

4. 

998 

u 

4. 

999 

ii 

4. 

1000 

u 

4. 

1001 

« 

4. 

10(12 

u 

4. 

1003 

Ma. 

7. 

1004 

u 

7. 

1005 

i( 

7. 

1006 

Se. 

12. 

1007 

ii 

12. 

1008 

u 

12. 

1009 

No. 

7. 

1010 

u 

7. 

1011 

ii 

7. 

1842. 

1012 

Ja. 

2. 

1013 

a 

2. 

1014 

ii 

2. 

1015 

Ju. 

26 

1016 

ii 

26 

1017 

ii 

26 

1018 

ii 

26 

1019 

ii 

26 

1020 

ii 

26 

1021 

Se. 

4 

1022 


113 


Jane  Tinkhain,  (938),  o.Cornisli,  fa.  593,  d.  Se.  16,  '48  re.  '54. 

Lydia  Dean,  (964),  o.  Paddleford,  dau.  Solomon. 

Lois  Dean,  fa.  964,  mo.  986. 

Charlotte  Elizabeth  Eddy,  fa.  718,  sis.  852,  m.  Rev.  F.  G. 

Pratt  Pastor  Winthrop  Church,  So.  Maldfin. 
Stephen  Harlow  Jr.,  gr.  mo.  632,  br.  990,  sis.  991,  (1029). 
Jonathan  E.  Harlow,  s.  Stephen  sr.,  br.  989,  Physician  in 

Ilingham.  m 
Sarah  Harlow,  br.  989,  sis.  992,  m.  John  A.  Williams. 
Betsey  B.  Harlow,  br.  989,  sis.  993,  m.  John  M.  Soule. 
Mary  L.  Harlow,  gr.  mo.  632,  sis.  992,  991,  br.  989,  990. 
j  VenusThompson,mo.655,  grgr.  mo.372andad.  64,(995). 
(  Jane  Thompson, (994),o.  Southworth,  dau.  Seth  and  Hope. 
Benjamin    F.  Thompson,  f-A.  705,  sis.  981,  m.   Sar^di   A. 

Wood,  [dau  David,  gr.  gr.'fa.  356,  d.  Ja.  10,  1854,  se.  35]. 
Oliver  G.  Tinkham,  fa.  938,  (972),  Re.  in  N.  Bridg'r. 
Rachel  Vineca,  w.  David,  o.  Vaughan,  mo.  567. 
Dorlisca  N.  Vineca,  mo.  998,  m.  Francis  Thompson. 
Lydia  Vineca,  mo.  998,  m.  Martin  AVood  of  Hal'x. 
Bathsheba  L.  Wilder,  (875),  o.  Murdock,  dis.  '47  to  C.  0.  C 
Abigail  T.  Wood,  mo.  742,  sis.  1003,  gr.  fa.  569. 
Mercy  L.  Wood,  mo.  768,  gr.  fa.  747. 

Joanna  Atwood,  w.  of  Jacob,  o.  Wood,  mo.  742,  sis.  1002. 
JMary  C.  Wood,  w.  of  Eliab  Jr.,  o.  Freeman,  fa.  676,  mo.  <s93. 
Harriet  0.  Putnam,  fa.  939,  br.  1036,  sis.  1057,  m.  Charles 

F.  Pierce,  [s.  Peter  H.,  gr.  fa.  868]. 
Sarah  T.  Thompson,  w.  of  Reuel  Jr.  [fa.  705],  o.  Wood, 

dau.  Alfred  sr.  and  Rhoda,  br.  1008.  gr.  mo  67?,  643. 
Alfred  WoocUr.  fr.  Woodstock  Ct.,  sis.  1007,  Dea.  '52. 
Lucy  Ann  Eddy,  dau.  Wm.  S.,  gr.  fa.  633,  m.  Dr.  Geo.  King. 
Mary  Jane  Eddy,  fa.  682,  sis.  970,  m.  Charles  F.  Thayer; 

Re.  in  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y. 
Alfred  B.  Soule,  mo.  977,  gr.  fa.  664,   654,  dis.   1845  to 

Manchester,  N.  H. 

(  Adoniram  J.  Cushman,  930,  (1013),  dis.  1847  to  C  C.  C. 

(Ann  S.  Cushman,  (1012),  o.  Reed,  dau.  of  Dean  H.,  dis. 

'47  to  C.  C.  0. 
Abiel  Wood,  s.  of  Timothy,  sis.  877,  (934),  dis.  '52  to  C.C.C. 
Zilpha  m.  Clarke,  w.  Joseph  3d.,  o.  Miller,  dau.  of  John, 

mo.  882,  gr.  gr.  mo.  ad.  51  ,  dis.  1847  to  C.  C.  C. 
Marston  S.  Morse,  s.  Sam'l,  br.  1053,  sis.  889,  gr.  fa.  549. 
Phebe  Thomas,  wid.  of  Israel,  o.  Thompson,  dau.  of  Dan'l. 
Perry  A.  Wilbur,  s.  Jas.,m.  Betsey  B.  Wilder,  dis.'49  C.C.C. 
George  Warren,  fa.  696,  mo.  685,  unra.  d.  Ap.  21, 1848  re.29. 
Mary  Wood,  w.  Thomas  J.,  o.  Tinkham,  dau.  Levi,  gr.ia.346. 

(  Halford  Earle  fr.  Brunswick  Me.,  s.  Frederic,  (1022), 

-|  he  and  W.  dis.  1847  to  E.  Thomaston  Me. 

(  Elizabeth  Earle  fr.  N.  Bedf  d.,  o.  Barker,  dau.  Joshua. 


1842. 


1023  Se.  4. 

1024 

"   4. 

1025 

"   4. 

1026 

«   4. 

1027 

«   4. 

1028 

«   4. 

1029 

"   4. 

1843. 

1030 

Ja.   1. 

1031 

Ma.  7. 

1032 

«   7. 

1033 

Ju.  2. 

1844. 

1034 

Ja.  7. 

1035 

«   7. 

1036 

«   7. 

1037 

Ma.  5. 

1038 

Jy.  7. 

1039 

«   7. 

1040 

"   7. 

1041 

No.  3. 

1042 

"   3. 

1845. 

(790) 

Ja.  5. 

1043 

"   5. 

1044 

Ma.  4. 

1846. 

1045 

Se.  6. 

1850. 

1046 

Ja.  6. 

1047 

Mh,  3 

1048 

"   3. 

1049 

"   3 

105C 

Ma.  5 

1051 

«   5 

114 


Eunice  Perkins,  (863),  o.  Bisbee,  dau.  of  Joseph,  gr.  gr. 
Cr.  fii.  68,  d.  Se,  16,  1844,  x.  40. 
fBenj.  F.  Pratt,  s.  Benj.  Jr.,  gr.  la.  646,  (1025),  Re.  to 
j  Plvmo. :  2il.  m.  BravTey,  d  Ja.  21,  185.3,  re.  34th. 

1  Abby  B.  Pratt,  (1024),  o.  Morse,  br.  1016,  d.  Jy.  14, 
[  '44,  se.  25. 

Mahala  S.  Pratt,  gr.  fa,  646,  br.  1024,  m.  Sam'l  Morse  Jr. 
Mary  H.  Thomps^on  fr.   Plymt.,  w.  Edw'd,  o.  Bryant,  da. 

of  Micah. 
Eleanor  B.  Wood,  mo.  751,  sis.  800,  dis.  1847  to  C.  C  C. 
Bethiah  0.  Harlow  fr.  E.  Bridg'r,  (989),  o.  Keith,  dau.  Geo. 

Consider    Bobbins    fr.   Carv.,  s.    of  Consider,  m.    Martha 

Richardson,  dis.  1847  to  C.  C.  C. 
Calvin  Doane,  m.  Huldah  Willis,  [mo.  940],  Be. 
Thomas  A.  Pratt,  fa.  772,  sis.  864,  m.  Ruth  C.  Bradford. 
Abigail   S.  Pickens   fr.  Rochester,    w.   of  Andrew    J.,   o. 

Snow,  dau.  Linus  of  Eochester,  dis.  1847  to  C.  C.  C. 


Mary  Briggs  fr.  W.  P.,  w.  of    Eben'r  Jr.,  o.  Dean,  dau. 

Kev.  Joshua  Dean,  d.  Iso.  1,  1846,  x  28. 
James  Foley,  s.  Lauren.s  and  Catharine  of  Ireland,  m.  Sylvia 

Standish.  \vk\.  Jn.  C.,  o.  Perkins,  dau.  Gideon. 
William  F.  Putnam,  fa.  939,  sis.  1006,  dis.  '49  to  Brooklyn 

N.  Y.,  d.  in  Middlcboro',  Feb.  11, 1853,  ae.  25. 
Phebe  H.  Wood  fr.  Pawtucket,  w.  of  Ansel,  o.  Hamilton, 
r  Dr.  Henry  1).  Hitchcock  fr.  Westminster  Vt.,  s.  David, 
!  (1039),  d.  by  K.  E.  disaster.  Feb.  23,  1847,  se.  27|. 

s  Olivia  Hitchcock  fr.  Westminster  Vt.,  (1038),  o.  Arnold, 
[  dau.  Eev.  Seth  S.,  dis.  '47  to  C.  C.  C. ;  a  2  d.  m.  in  Vt. 

Hope  Wrightington,  dau.  of  David,  dis.  1847  to  C.  C.   C, 

unm.,  d.  Ja  4,  1850,  ae.  43d. 
(  Bea.  Cornelius  S.  Burgess  fr.New  Bed! 'd,d}s.'47  to  C.C.C. 
\  Melissa  Burgess  fr.  N.B.,  (1041),  o.  Cobb,  dau.  Nehemiah. 


(  Dr.  John  Perkins  fr.  No.  Roch'r,  (1043),  dis.  '47  to  C.C.C. 

■}  Ann  S.  Perkins  fr.  N.  Y.  city,  (790),  o.  Nelson,  dau  of 

I  Dr.  Thomas  [a  native  of  Middleboro'J,  dis. '47  to  C  C.C. 

Joanna  Brand  fr.  N.  P.,  (Ind.)  unm.  d.  Jy.  31, 1851,  aj.  82  ? 

Almira  Goddard  fr.  Roxbury,  w.  John  H.,  o.  Porter,  dau, 
Aaron  and  Pauline,  dis.  1847  to  C.  C.  C. 

Susanna  B.  Smith,  w.  Harvey,  o.  Robbins,  dau.  Manas'h. 
Ruth  E.  Dean,  w.  Wm.,  o.  Baker,  dau.  Benoni  and  Hannah.- 

(  George  M.  Leach  fr.Sandw.  N.H.,s.of  Levi,sis.963,(1049). 

I  Betsey  E.  Leach,  (104.S),  o.  Edson,  dau.  Ezra  and  Eliza. 
Consider   Fuller,  mo.    647,  sis.    685,  799,  gr.   fa.  577,  m, 

Mercy  Thompson,  dau.  of  Moses,  [his  ^r.  fa.  235.] 
Hannah  W.  Soiile,  w.  Lewis,  o.  Smith,  dau.  Jabez,  sis.  865» 


115 


1850. 

1052 

u 

5. 

1053 

Jy. 

7 

1054 

Xo. 

3. 

1851. 

1055 

Ja. 

5. 

1056 

« 

5. 

1057 

u 

5. 

1058 

u 

5. 

1059 

Ap. 

6. 

1060 

Jy. 

6. 

(722) 

(( 

6. 

1061 

<( 

6. 

1062 

a 

6. 

1063 

ii 

6. 

10G4 

Jy- 

6. 

1852. 

1065 

No. 

7. 

1853. 

1066 

Ja. 

2. 

(847) 

u 

2. 

1067 

(( 

2. 

1068 

Mh. 

6. 

1069 

Ua. 

1070 

a 

1071 

li 

1072 

a 

1073 

u 

1074 

a 

1075 

u 

1076 

u 

1077 

Jy. 

3 

1078 

li 

3 

1079 

(( 

3 

1080 

u 

3 

1081 

li 

3 

1082 

ii 

3 

1083 

N^>. 

6 

1084 

•' 

6 

Marcia  Soule,  (866),  o.  Soule,  dan.  Thomas,  gr.  f\v.  603,  d. 

Oc.  20,  1853,  ffi.  40th. 

Charles  S.  Morse,  s.  Samuel,  br.  1016,  m.  Nancy  W.  Pratt. 
Elisabeth  S.  Smith  fr.  Hal'x,  w.  of  Moses  T.,  [gr.  fa.  690, 
gr.  gr.  fa.  356],  o.  Bourne,  dau.  Isaac  of  Hal'x. 

Mercy  E.  Bryant,  w.  of  Ira,  o.  Freeman,  mo.  1061,  sis.  972, 

1056,  gr.  mo.  860,  gr.  gr.  mo.  486. 
Louisa  Cornish,  w.  Josiah  T.,  [gr.  fa.  593,  664],  o.  Freeman, 

mo.  1061,  sis.  972,  1055. 
Julia  Maria  Putnam,  fa.  939,  br.  1036,  sis.  1006,  m.  Alfred 

S.  Thaver,  Re.  in  Exeter,  N.  H. 
Sarah  Jane  Tinkham,  dau  of  Enoch,  gr.  mo.  551,  gr.  gr.  fa. 

592,  Re.  in  Boston. 
Melinda  B.  Eddy  fr.  Fall  River,  (682),  o.  Bordon,  1st  m. 

to  Rev  Augustus  B.  Reed. 
Rev.  Elijah  Dexter  fr.  Plymt.,  s.  of  Elijah,  late  Pastor 

there,  (722),  d.  Oc   10,  1851,  ffi.  65. 
Lydia  Dexter  fr.  Plymt.,  (1060.) 
Virtue  M.  Freeman,  w.  of  Josiah,  o.  Morton,  dau.  Seth  Jr., 

sis  789.  gr.  fa.  354,  gr.  gr.  mo.  127. 
Elisabeth  Littlejohn,  w.  Orsamus,  o.  Swift,  dau.  Jn. 
j  Thomas  Savery,  s.  of  Neremiah,  gr.  gr.  gr.  mo.  43,  (1064). 
(Penelope  Savery,  (1063,)  o.  Swift,  dau.  John,  sis.  1062. 

Susan  H.  Caswell,  fr.  Bridg'r,  w.  of  Eleazer  R.,  o.  Caswell. 

Thomas  Weston  Jr.,  fa.  839,  gr.  fa.  834,  944. 

Adeline  Cobb  fr.  Plym.,  w.  of  Pieman,  o.  Cobb,  mo.  684. 

Saba  Adams  Comstock  fr.  Dedham,  w.  of  Dr.  Wm.  W.,  o. 

Sturtevant  dau.  of  Thomas,  gr.  mo.  627. 
Elira  Jane  Eddy  fr.  Providence,  w.  of  Joshua  M.  [fa.  944], 

o.  Carpenter,  dau  of  Hosea  of  Prov. 
Sarah  A.  Atwood,  w.  of  Josiah,  o.  Bonney,  dau.  Ezekiel. 
Freeman  T.  Mc.Glathlin,  s.  of  Tho.,  gr.  gr.  mo.  ad.  85,(1077). 

(  Seneca  R.  Tliomas,  f\i.  9 1 8,  sis.  958,  gr.  gr.  mo.  443,(1072). 

I  Zilpha  B.  Thomas,  (1071),  o.  Shurtliff,  mo.  1081. 
Melinda  Thoma?,  wid.  of  Luthrop,  o.  Shurlliff,  sis.  920. 
Clarissa  Jane  Thomas,  mo.  1073,  br.  957. 
Sarah  Tyner,  dau.  of  Michael  and  Susan  of  Ireland. 
Lydia  Shaw  fr.  Plymt.,  wid.  of  Wm.,  o.  Sampson,  sis.  1080. 
Harriet  Mc.Glathlin,(1070),  o.  Thomas,  dau.  Isaiah,  sis.  923, 

gr.  fa.  350. 
Francis  M.  Shaw,  mo.  1076. 

j  Benjamin  Shaw,  fa.  648,  mo.  566,  gr.  mo.  ad.  85. 

I  Bethiah  Shaw,  (1079)  o.  Sampson,  dau.  Peleg,  sis.  1076. 
Zilpha  Shurtliflf,  wid.  of  Barnabas,  o.  Cole,  sis.  893,  917. 
Mary  M.  Morse,  w.  Oliver,  o.  Goodwin. 
Salome  Vaughan,  w.  of  Wm.  H.,  o.  Willis,  fo.  802,  gr.  fa.  762. 
Rhodu  J.  Savery,  w.  of  Geo.  S.  [la.  067,  gr    mo.  555],  o. 
Churchill,  dau.  of  Asaph  and  Rhoda,  gr.  fa.  720. 


116 


RESIDENT    BRETHREN 


Admitted. 

Admitted. 

Darling, 

Savery. 

848,  Alanson, 

1823. 

1063,  Thomas, 

1852. 

Dean, 

Shaw, 

964.  Eliab, 

1840. 

651,  Samuel, 

1803. 

Eddy, 

1078,  Francis  M. 

1853 

682,  Nathaniel, 

1807. 

1079,  Benjamin, 

1853. 

718,  Zechariah, 

1808. 

Smith, 

944,  Joshua, 

1837. 

679,  Levi, 

1807. 

Foley, 

Soule, 

1035,  James, 

1844. 

863,  James, 

1823 

Fuller, 

978,  Isaac,  Jr., 

1840 

1050,  Consider, 

1850. 

Thomas, 

Gisby. 

885,  Eleazer, 

1824 

773,  William, 

1813. 

918,  Seneca, 

1831. 

928,  Thomas, 

1831. 

957,  Lothrop, 

1838 

Harlow, 

1071,  Seneca  R., 

1850. 

989,  Stephen, 

1841. 

Thompson. 

Leach, 

935,  Cephas, 

1832 

1048,  George  M., 

1850. 

994,  Venus, 

1841. 

Lucas, 

996,  Benjamin  F., 

1841. 

822,  Job, 

1823. 

Tinkham, 

Mc.Glathlin, 

938,  Harvey, 

1833. 

1070,  Freeman  T., 

1853. 

Warren, 

Morse, 

696,  John, 

1807. 

1016,  Marston  S., 

1841. 

Weston, 

1053,  Charles  S., 

1850. 

839,  Thomas,  sr., 

1823 

Pratt, 

1066,  Thomas,  Jr., 

1853 

772,  Thomas, 

1813. 

Wood, 

1032,  Thomas  A., 

1843. 

953,  William  H., 

1837 

Putnam, 

1008,  Alfred,  Jr., 

1841 

939,  Israel  W.,  Kev. 

1835. 

NON- 

■RESIDED 

rr  MEMBERS. 

841,  Atwood,  Dr.  Shadrach. 
877,  Bassett,  Mrs.  Lydia. 
776,  Brown,  wid.  Sarah. 
872,  Bryant,  Mrs.  Cordelia. 

842,  (  Buss,  Martin. 

843,  I     "      Mrs.  Eliza. 
707,  Cobb,  Jacob. 

759,  Curtis,  Mrs.  Sally. 
1031,  Doane,  Calvin. 
855,  Drake,  Mrs.  Louisa. 
804.  Elmes,  P^liphalet. 
966.  Fuller,  Mrs.  Mary  Ann, 
769.  Harlow,  wid.  Hepzibah. 
990.  Harlow,  Dr.  Jona.  Edwards. 
950,  Hathaway,  Mrs.  Mary  T. 
945,  Hill,  Miss  Harriet. 
859,  Holmes,  Geo.  L. 


954,  Orrington,  Miss  Mary  Ann. 

906,  ^  Pool,  Samuel. 

907, 1  Pool,  Mrs.  Lydia. 

826,  Standish,  Josiah  O. 

900,  Standish,  Avid.  Jane. 

979,  Stephens,  Mrs.  Priscilla. 

830,  Taylor,  Mrs.  Lucy. 
1010.  Thayer,  Mrs.  Mary  Jane. 
1057.  Thayer,  Mrs.  Julia  Maria. 

869,  Thomas,  Daniel. 

640,  Thompson,  Rev.  Otis. 

730,  Thompson,  Ezra. 

999,  Thompson,  Mrs.  Dorliska  N. 

997,  (Tinkham,  Oliver  G. 

972,  )  Tinkham,  Mrs.  Jane. 

815,  Wood,  Mrs.  Louisa. 
1000,  Wood,  Mrs.  Lydia. 


117 


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ADDENDA. 


1^"  A  portion  of  the  first  twelve  of  this  addenda  list  appear  by 
the  transactions  of  the  church  to  have  been  members ;  others  of 
them  are  known  lor  g  to  have  worshipped  and  communed  here,  and 
must  have  been  members  here  or  elsewhere. 

1  Pegge  Rowland;  dis.  1753  to  4th  Church,  Bridgwater. 

2  Anna  Kalton,  w,  of ?  ( Afr.),  servant  of  No.  35,  chi.  bap  fr.  1733. 

3  Nannie,  (Afr.),  serv't  of  Nos.  35,  47  ;  d.  Ju.  28,  1787,  x.  91st. 

4  Jacob  Tomson,  fa.  9,  br.  268,  sis.  180, 159,  (ad.  36),  m.  1731,  d.  Mh. 
10,  1789,  X  94th. 

Isaac  Pei'kins,  of  chh.  in  Carv.,  s.  of  Zephaniah,  m.  Mary  ShurtlifF, 
chi.  749,  790,  d.  Jv-  1839,  ca.  95th. 

6  (  Jacob  Bennet,  fa.  179,  (ad.  7),  m.  1751,  d.  No.  6,  1799,  sa.  74. 

7  (  Hope  Bennet,  (ad.  6),  o.  Nelson,  d.  Fe.  5,  1816,  te.  84. 
j  Elijah  Perry,  (ad.  9),  d.  Ja.  28,  1812,  a^.  86th. 

9  I  Sarah  Perry,  (ad.  8),  d.  Jy.  25,  1813,  se.  84th. 

10  CLivy  Morton,  s.  Eben'r,  gr.  mo.   127.  (11),  m.  bef.   1790,  2d.  m. 
Catharine  Richmond  dau.  Stephen,  d.  Jy.  19,  1838,  aj.  78i. 

11  (  Hannah  Morton,  (10),  o.  Dailey,  dau.  Abiel,  d.  Se.  4,  18u7,  a3.  47th. 

12  Rebecca  Scollay,  dau.  Benj'n  ol'  Mystic  ;  resident  in  Rev.  S.  Conant's 
fam.  from  1759,  unm.,  d.  No.  15,  1801,  se.  68th. 

1^"  The  following  persons  were  in  such  covenant  connection  with 
the  church  as  to  be  under  its  wateji  and  care,  and  to  enjoy  the  right 
of  baptism  for  tlieir  children.  Some  of  them  may  have  been  in  full 
membership  with  this  or  other  churches. 

13  Samuel  Chard  ;  ch.  Joseph  b.  1705,  Wm.  1708,  and  bap.  1710. 

14  Samuel  Cobb  ;  (w.  Abigail)  ;  5  ch.  bap.  fr.  1710  to  1718. 

15  "  Shubael  and  Elisabeth  Lewis  1709." 

16  Ann  Winslow  ;  "  bap.  at  Rochester  June  1710." 

17  John  Smith  and  Melatiah  ;  chi.  bap.  1710. 
18"  James  Coomes,  Oc.  1710." 

19  Hannah  Vaiighan  ;  )  Bap.,  made  conf.  of  faith  in 

20,Mary  Vanghan  ;  (prob.  b.  1G94.  fa.  38,)  \  Christ  and  admit'dintoCov't. 
21  Jane  Hall";  clii.  Tabatlia  bap.  1713;   Charity,  1715. 
22|Lt.  Elkanah  Leonard;  chi.  Timothy  bap.  1713. 


23 

24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 

35 
36 

37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
43 
44 
45 
46 
47 
48 
49 
60 
51 
62 
53 
54 
55 
56 
57 
58 
59 
60 
61 
62 
63 
64 

65 
66 
67 


119 


Wm.Thoma?,  Jr.,  b.  1700,1 

sis.  119,  br.  298,  (115).        \        These  four  were  '  bap.,  made  conf.  of 
Joseph  Tliomas  ;  }■  faith  in  Christ  and  admitted  into  cove" 

Josiah  Thomas;  j    nant,  1713.' 


J 


Betty  Cobb  ; 

Jerusha  Conant,  b.  1702,  mo.  101  ;     >       Made  their  relations,  and 

Prudence  Conant,  b.  1707,  mo.  101  ;  )  were  bap.  1721. 

Elisabeth  Thomas,  b.  1698,  br.  ad.  23  ?  made  rel.  and  bap.  1715. 

Abiah  Caswell ;  made  a  relalion  and  bap.  1722. 

Robert  Mackfun  ;  (w.  72)  ;  '  Bap.  in  Scotland  ;  restored  to  cov't.' 

John  Drew  Jr. ;  fa.  78,  m.  Susanna  Bennet,  1728.  )  Made   conf.    and 

Thomas  Drew  ;  fa.  78  ;  d.  Ju.  14,  1770  ?  j  bap.  1724. 

Geo.  Vaughan,  fa.  38,  and  w.  (166),  owned  the  covenant  and  he  was 

bap.  1728,  1st  w.  Rebecca,  d.  1718;  he  d.  Ap.  11,  1766,  re.  83d. 
Elisabeth  Robbins,  w.  Jn.,  her  chi.  bap.  fr.  1727  to  '38. 
Elisabeth  Hohiies,  w.  Jn.  bef.  1724,  o.  Tilson,  2d.  m.  (ad.  4),  d.  Au, 

8,  1773,  £E.  74th. 
Samuel  Fuller,  fa.  28,  br.  94,  156,  (146)  ;  6  chi.  bap.  fr.  1729. 
Thankful  Eaton,  (226),  o.  Alden,  fa.  32,  d.  Oc.  29,  1732,  a?.  26. 
Mary  Tliomas,  br.  ad.  23,  m.  Jacob  Soule  1731,  d.  Mb.  1, 1749,  se.  49. 
Eunice  Thomas,  br.  ad.  23,  (336),  d.  Ap.  8,  1778,  «.  69. 
Betty  Thomas,  b.  1716,  br.  ad.  23,  m.  Jona.  Wood,  Bridg'r,  1737. 
Sarah  Holmes;  her  chi.  Hannah  bap.  1733. 
Mary  Holmes,  w.  Thomas  m.  1731,  o.  Sproat. 
Gershom  Sampson,  br.  193  ?  (224)  ;  chi.  bap.  fr.  1729. 
Eben'r  AYood,  fa.  7,  (429),  chi.  bap.  fr.  1729,  d.  De.  5,  1768,  vs.  71. 
Samuel  Warren  Jr. ;  fa.  174,  m.  Rebecca  Dunham,  1734. 
Cornelius  Warren,  b.  1710,  fa.  174,  chi.  bap.  fr.  1736. 
Wm.  Canedy,  (432) ;  '  Wm.  Esq.,  of  Taunton,  d.  Ja.  23,  1774.' 
Susanna  Miller,  w.  David,  m.  1728,  o.  Holmes  ;  removed. 
Lt.  Joseph  Bennet,  s.  of  Peter,  (273),  d.  Ja.  1742,  se.  38th. 
Priscilla  Bennet,  br.  ad.  50,  m.  Jn.  Miller  1735,  d.  Oc.  7, 1754,  se.  44th. 
Wm.  Nelson,  "  of  a  chh.  in  Ireland  ;  "  3  chi.  bap.  fr.,  1730. 
Joel  Ellis,  (190),  6  chi.  bap.  1730,  d.  Ju.  21,  1763,  £b.  85th. 
J  Barna.  Eaton,  fa.  15,  w.  Mehita'l,  2  w.  (ad.  55),  d.  No.  1790,  re.90th. 
(Elisabeth  Eaton,  (ad.  54)  m.  1743,  o.  Clemens? 
Jabez  Wood,  b.  1686,  fa.  13,  m.  Mercy  Fuller  171G  ;  7  chi.  bap.  1732. 
Robert  Barrows,  b.  1709,  fa,  59,  (248),  d.  bef.  1761. 
Eben'r  Morton,  .sis.  80,  131,  134,  (127),  d.  Ma.  12,  1750,  re.  54th. 
Mary  Palmer,  b.  1715,  fa.  21  ;  relation  read  and  bap.  1732. 
Samuel  Tinkham  sr.,  fa.  46  ?  m.  1718,  1730,  d.  Mb.  16,  1775,03.87. 
Thomas  King,  (279);  his  chi.  bap.  fr.  1733. 

Mary  Savery,  w.  Jn.  jr.,  m.  1729,  o.  Thomas,  d.  Jy.  20,  1778,  a;.  71st. 
Content  Weston,  w.  Jn.,  [his  2  w.  (347) ;  he  d.  Au.  18,  1768,  a3.  73.] 
Martha  Torason,  w.  of  Thomas  2d.  m.  1732,  o.  Soul,  mo.  55,  d.  Mh. 

18,  1772,  £8.  70th. 

John  Smith,  s.  of  Jn.,  (313).  m.  1736,  d.  De.  13,  1748,  cc.  46th. 
Mary  Shaw ;  chi.  bap.  1737.     A  wid.  Mary  d.  Ma.  18,  1793,  se.  89. 
Ichabod  Barden,  b.  1705,  s.  of  Jn.,  m.  Bethia  Elmes,  chi.  bap.  1737 


120 


68  Jedidah  Wood  ;  cbi.  bap.  1737.     Que?  263. 

69  Mrs. —  Sampson,  w.  Peleg ;  chi.  bap.  1739. 

70  Amos  Bates  and  w.  Jemima;  their  chi.  bap.  173'J. 

71  Esther  Bennet,  \v.  Eben'r  Jr.,  owned  cov't,  and  chi.  bap.  1739,  d. 

Jy  5,  1776,  X.  70th. 

72  .Jane  BroAvn  ;  her  chi.  bap.  1739. 

73  (  James  Warren,  b.  1711,  fa.  174,  (ad.  74),  |  Made  relations  and  tbcm- 

74  I  Mary  Warren,  (ad.  73),  \  ^^elves  and  chi.  bap.  1739. 

75  Joanna  Barlow,  w.  Wm. ;  her  chi.  bap.  fr.  1738  to  '52. 

76  Elisabeth  Whaley,  w.  Alexander;  her  chi.  bap.  1740. 

77  (  Gershom  Cobb  Jr.,  b.  1714,  fa.  272,  (ad.  78),  their  chi.  bap.  1740. 

78  I  Miriam  Cobb,  (ad.77),  m.  1739,  o.  Thomas,  mo.  136,  d.  Ja.  31, 

1748,  se.  27. 

79  .Joseph  Harris,  (w.  Hannah),  "  His  chi.  bap.  1741." 

80  Mrs. Clarke,  w.  of  John,  "  Her  chi.  bap.  1741." 

81  Jn.  Montgomery  ;  ra.  Mary  Strowbridge,  1735  ;  chi.  bap.  1742. 

82  Gideon  Southworth,  fa.  135,  (308),  d.  Oc.  25,  1788,  a3.  70th. 

83  Lemuel  Harlow  sr.,  (w.  Joanna),  "  His  chi.  bap.  1745." 

84  Benjamin  Pratt  sr.,  (w.  Lydia),  6  chi.  bap.  fr.  1745. 
85Mehitabel  Thomas,  w.  Sam'12d.,  10  chi.bap.fr.l746  to '64.o.Barrows? 

86  Jonathan  Shaw  Jr.;  5  chi.  bap.  fr.  1746-56. 

87  Sarah  Morse,  w.  David,  chi.  bap.  1748  "  on  her  account." 

88  Joanna  Reed,  w.  of  Seth,  4  ch.  bap.  fr.  1750  to  '60. 

89  John  Tilson,  (480?)  chi.  Patience  bap.  1750. 

90  Elisabeth  Ellis,  w.  of  Wm.,  o.  Lazell,  1st.  chi.  bap.  1753. 

91  Nathan  Tinkham  of  Ilal'x.,  b.  1725,  fa.  93,  chi.  bap.  1756. 

92  Joseph  Waterman,  (w.  Joanna),  chi.  bap.  1756. 

93  Abigail  Hacket,  w.  Eben'r,  m.  1757,  o.  Thomas,  chi.  bap.  1760. 
94Mary  Willis,  w.  Jas.  m.  '59  o.  Thomas,  chi.  bap.  1762  ;d.  Ja.  5, 

1795,^.69. 
95  Deborah  Billington,  w.  Seth,  o.  Smith,  mo.  313,  2  chi.  bap.  1763. 
96|john  Phinney,  sis.  585,  (586),  chi.  bap.  fr.l781,d.  Ap.  2,  1785,  ae.  24^. 


ADDITIONAL  DEATHS  OF  MEMBERS. 


-«—»•••—»- 


Since  the  decease  of  Miss  Elizabeth  Barker,  (D.  C.  No.  788)  in 
Chicago,  her  friends  there  have  forwarded  to  this  church,  from  among  her 
papers,  "  A  Bill  of  Mortality  kept  in  the  First  Precinct  in  Middleboro' 
from  and  after  December  5, 1781,  by  Joseph  Barker."  This  MS.  book 
of  her  father  appears  to  be  a  careful  record  of  827  deaths,  specifying  the 
"occasion,"  or  disease,  up  to  the  time  of  his  decease,  "July  25,  1815, 
aged  62  years  and  nine  months."  From  it  are  gathered  the  following 
deaths  of  church  membei"s,  which  we  had  not  found  from  other  sources. 
The  number  will  show  their  place  in  the  Descriptive  Catalogue : 


315  Alice  Anthony  d.  De.  2,  1786,  33.  80. 
207  Mary  Bennct,  wid.  d.Ap.  2, 1785,  se. 

79th. 
265  Rebecca  Darling  d.  Se.  16,l782,ffi.9.3. 
289  Wid. Dunham  d.  Mh.  27,  1801, 

fc.  97th. 
524  ElkanahElmesd.Nov.l9,1809,se.82. 
146  Wid.  Silence  Fuller  d.  Jy.  23,1786,se. 

521  Wid.  ~^—  Maxfield  d.  Mh.  11,  1787, 

£E.  88th. 
485  Francis  Pomeroy  d,  Ja.  23, 1807,  ss.1 


406  Samuel  Pratt  d.  Ap.  20,  1794,  ffi.  78- 
374  Japhet  Eickard  d.  Nov.  25,1798,ffi.74. 
206  Wid. Sampson  d.  De.  7,l794,£e. 

86th. 
333  David  Sears  d.  Au.  20,  1788,  Ee.78. 
216  Wid.  of  Jona.  Snovr  d.  Ap.  20,  1783, 

ve.  69th. 
322  Wife  of  Jas.  Willis  d.  Ja.  5,l795,a;.69. 
218  Susanna  Thomas,  mo.  45,br.424,425, 

350,  unm.  d.  Ma.  15, 1785,  as.  75. 
372  Wifeof  Dan'l  Vaughand.Fe.  1,1791, 

aj.  73. 


ORDEE  DURING  WORSHIP. 

"  Thy  WAT,  O  God  !  is  in  the  sanctuary  ; 
Who  is  so  gkeat  a  God  as  our  God  ?" — Psalm  Ixxvii :  12. 


To  show  the  views  of  the  Eev.  Peter  Thacher — our  much  venerated 
pastor,  more  than  a  century  since — we  give  below  his  letter  on  this 
subject  from  the  church  records,  under  his  hand,  in  accordance  with 
another  on  page  23 :  — 

LETTER. 

"My  letter  to  some  who  would  run  out  from  the  jjublic  worship  at  the  last 
singing,  before  the  public  blessing,  Sept.  18,  1737. 


To  Mr. 


AND  HIS  Wife. 


Dear  Friends:  —  As  long  as  [it  was  proper  in!  charity  to  suggest  a 
cover  for  your  abruptly  breaking  from  the  public  worship,  I  was  silent. 
But  your  manner  of  leaving  it  of  late  obliges  me,  as  your  friend  and 


122 

watchman,  to  bear  solemn  testimony  against  such  a  practice,  if  not 
forced  to  it  by  bodily  indisposition.  I  solemnly  beseech,  and  in  the 
name  of  God,  charge  you  to  consider  what  you  do  when  you  pour  such 
contempt  upon  the  institutions  of  the  Lord  Christ,  whom  you  have  taken 
for  your  King,  and  promised  subjection  to  Ilim  in  all  His  institutions. 
God  hath  appointed  His  ministers  to  bless  His  worshiping  assemblies 
in  His  name.  What  do  you,  if  you  needlessly  turn  your  backs  on  this 
blessing,  but  say,  "  'tis  comtemptible,"  and  so  are  in  danger  to  carry 
away  a  curse  instead  of  a  blessing  ?  If  all  should  do  as  you  do,  where 
would  the  order  of  God's  house  be  ?  What  a  sad  and  sinful  exam^^le 
do  you  set  before  vain  persons,  to  whom  you  ought  to  be  exemplary  ? 
How  do  you  grieve  the  hearts  of  them  which  you  ought  not  to  make 
sad  ?  Every  time  you  do  so,  you  break  the  covenant  of  God  with  your 
brethren  with  whom  you  have  promised  to  walk  orderly.  If  you,  with- 
out the  pressing  necessities  of  the  body,  do  so  for  time  to  come — which 
I  hope  God  will,  in  His  mercy  to  your  souls,  keep  you  from — this  will 
be  a  witness  against  you,  and  the  guilt  of  so  evil,  so  God-dishonoring  a 
practice,  must  lie  at  your  door  and  not  mine,  who  am  your  grieved  and 
affectionate  friend  and  pastor, 

"  Peter  Teacher." 

As  it  is  a  material  order  of  the  house  of  God,  that  at  the  close  of  the 
service  the  minister  should  pronounce  the  benediction  upon  the  congre- 
gation, it  is  obviously  important  that  they  should  give  a  most  reverential 
attention  while  the  Divine  blessing  is  thus  implored. 

The  early  seating  also  of  the  congregation  before  the  service  com- 
mences, adds  much  to  the  solemnity  and  good  order  of  public  worship. 

These  orderly  attentions  are  well  approved  by  the  church  and  people 
in  this  place,  and  in  general  may  be  observed.  Late  arrivals  at  the 
meeting-house  in  the  morning  may  cause  some  irregularity,  but  prompt- 
ness in  joining  the  assembly  in  the  afternoon  is  expected  of  all.  Those 
also  who  have  the  care  of  children  should  instruct  them  in  these  things. 

"  Those  that  be  planted  in  the  house  of  the  Lord, 
"  Shall  flourish  in  the  courts  of  our  God." 


^yCfV^J^^ 


NOTES. 


Page  3.  Indian  Churches.  In  1698,  Rev.  Grindal  Rawson,  of  Mendon,  and 
Rev.  Samnel  Danforth,  of  Taunton,  were  commissioned  by  the  Society  for 
propagating  the  Gospel  among  the  Indians,  to  visit,  and  did  visit,  the  several 
plantations  in  the  Old  Colony,  and  made  their  report;  10  Hist.  Col.  129 — 134. 
Extract :  "  There  are  at  Assowampsit  and  Quittaub  twenty  houses  and  eighty 
persons.  John  Hiacoomes,  preacher  and  constant  schoolmaster.  Mr.  Jocelyn 
preached  at  Assowampsit.  At  Kehtehticut  are  forty  adults,  to  whom  Charles 
Aham  preached."  All  these  places  are  in  Middleborough.  Kehtehticut,  Co- 
tuticut,  and  Tetiquid  are  diiferent  spellings  of  Titicut.  Quittaub  might  be  an- 
other name  for  Nemasket,  or  it  might  be  "  Betty's  Neck." 

Titicut  is  mentioned  as  a  place  of  praying  Indians.  Rev.  Mr.  Backus  says 
in  his  account  of  Middleboro',  (1  Hist.  Col.  150),  "  ABaptist  church  was  formed 
among  them  [at  Titicut],  and  Nehemiah  Abel,  Thos.  Sekins,  Thos.  Felix  [see  Des. 
Cat.  324],  and  John  Symons  are  teachers  among  them.  When  I  came  here 
[1747]  John  Symons  was  the  minister  of  that  church,  and  continued  so  for 
near  ten  years,  and  then  he  removed  to  the  southward.  He  assisted  in  ordain- 
ing Silas  Paul  on  Martha's  Vineyard  in  1763.  One  Indian  gave  five  acres, 
and  two  others  fifteen  acres  of  land  for  the  ministry  in  Titicut. 

Nehemiah  Bennet,  Esq.,  gr.  fa.  D.  C.  179,  wrote  an  account  of  Middleboro,' 
(1  Hist.  Col.  3),  and  respecting  the  Indians  in  town,  says,  "  Therejis  a  settle- 
ment of  them  descended  from  the  ancients,  on  '  Betty's  Neck,'  [perhaps  the 
same  as  Quittaub],  eight  houses  and  eight  families ;  the  general  number  is  from 
30  to  40." 

This  was  in  1793.  He  says,  "  they  raise  good  crops  which  they  sell  for  rum, 
and  live  afterwards  by  making  baskets  and  brooms.  They  are  subject  to  hec- 
tics, and  half  that  are  born  are  carried  off  by  consumptions." 

Page  34.  Rev.  Samuel  Fuller  had  also  a  son  Jahez,  who  died  June,  1712, 
and  whose  widow,  Mercy,  married  Joseph  Vaughan,  No.  38. 

Page  3,  at  foot.     The  Indian  name  of  the  "  Long  Pond  "  is  "  Pontaquahot." 

Page  4.  It  was  not  intended  to  give  a  list  of  the  twenty-six  purchasers,  but 
such  of  them  and  their  representatives  as  were  in  town  in  1675,  when  the 
settlement  was  attacked  by  the  Indians.  The  names  of  the  purchasers  were  : 
"  Francis  Sprague,  John  Adams,  George  Partridge,  Francis  Cooke,  Thomas 
Bordman,  William  Pontus,  Samuel  Fuller,  Edward  Bumpus,  Francis  Bil- 
linston,  William  Brewster,  John  Shaw,  Edward  Gray,  (two  shares.)  Resolved 
White,  William  Hodskins,  Andrew  Ring,  Moses  Simmons,  AVilliam  Nelson, 
John  Howland,  George  Soul,  Phillip  Delano,  William  Mullens,  Peter  Brown, 
Samuel  Eddy,  Matthew  Fuller,  William  Twining."  It  should  be  mentioned 
that  the  Indian  churches  referred  to  on  the  third  page,  were  gathered  by  the 
instrumentality  of  Rev.  Mr.  Bourne,  of  Sandwich,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Treat,  of 
Eastham  (son  of  Gov.  Treat,  of  Connecticut)  whose  labors  for  the  conversion 
of  Indians  were  not  surpassed  by  the  apostle  Elliot  himself,  there  being  at  that 
time  fifteen  hundred  of  them  formed  into  churches  in  the  Old  Colony, 

Page  36.  Rev.  Mr.  Thacher.  Backus,  in  his  Church  History,  says :  "  He 
was  much  engaged  in  and  after  the  glorious  revival  of  1741,  and  his  success 
was  so  great  that  there  were  above  340  communicants  in  the  church  when  he 
died." 

Page  38.  Rev.  S.  Conant,  No.  468,  married,  about  a  year  after  his  ordina- 
tion, a  lady  of  Boston  whose  name  was  called  Bethan  or  Betell,  (perhaps  it  was 

Bethune).     She  died  in  about  a  year  after  marriage.     His  second  wife  was  

Willianis  of  Roxbury,  (perhaps  daughter  of  Dr.  Williams,)  who  lived  a  num- 
ber ot  years  and  was  the  mother  of  a  daugliter  named  Hannah,  who  died  in 


\^ 


124 

infancy.  His  tbird  wife  was  admmitted  to  this  churcli  in  1758  by  a  letter  from 
the  church  in  "  Norwich,"and  —  as  appears  by  a  letter  written  by  Mr.  Conant, 
expressive  of  his  deep  affliction,  to  her  father,  and  which  was  printed  at  New 
London  by  her  friends  in  the  tame  year  of  her  death,  1759, — was  the  daughter 
of  Col  Hezekiah  Huntington.  A  son,  Hezekiah,  was  born  Nov.  7,  1758,  bap- 
tized Nov.  12th,  and  died  in  infancy,  leaving  Mr.  C.  childless.  A  iriend.  Miss 
ScoUay,  (ad.  12^^,  became  a  permanent  resident  in  his  family  at  or  soon  after  his 
third  marriage,  and  conducted  his  household  affiiirs  until  his  death  in  1777; 
in  which  period  she  acted  as  guardian  of  two  young  orphan  neices.  One  of 
them  became  the  wife  of  the  late  Dr.  Joseph  Clarke,  and  the  other,  succes- 
sively, the  second  wife  of  Daniel  Thomas,  and  Capt.  David  Thomas,  (Nos.  544 
and  546).  After  Mr.  Conant's  decease.  Miss  Scollay  tenanted  the  Dr.  Peter 
Oliver  house,  (now  Capt.  Earl  Sprout's)  and  Kev.  Abraham  Camp  (p.  41) 
boarded  with  her.  She  was  esteemed  a  person  of  much  excellence  of  charac- 
ter.    The  inscription  on  her  grave- stone  in  "  the  Green  "  Cemetery  is  as  follows : 

"  Great  peace  have  they  who  love  God." 

In  memory  of  Miss  Rebecca  Scollay. 
■\Mio  died  Nov.  15th,  1801  in  her  68th  year, 

"  The  ways  of  God  were  her  delight  ; 
Her  faith  was  strong,  her  hope  was  bright." 

In  1760  Mr.  Conant  adopted  Deborah  Conant  then  five  years  of  age  and  the 
daughter  of  his  brother.  Deborah  married  the  late  Nathan  Lazell  of  Bridge- 
water.  The  above  in  part  has  been  furni.-hed  us  by  descendents.  There  is  no 
record  or  monument  in  town  of  the  first  and  second  wives  of  Mr.  Conant. 

Kev.  Isaac  Backus  says :  "  Mr.  Conant  ministered  to  good  purpose  until  his 
decease." 

Page  39.  In  respect  to  Mr.  Weld  he  says,  when  a  law  was  passed,  "  giving 
liberty  to  the  people  to  attend  which  meeting  they  pleased,  the  friends  of  Mr. 
Weld  grew  sick  of  him,  and  used  violence  against  him,  until  ^they  got  him 
away,  and  obtained  a  dissolution  of  their  Society." 

P.  P.  52,  54.  Deacons. — Lost  Records.  The  table  of  deacons  on  p.  117 
corrects  some  errors  on  these  pages.  The  following  extracts  from  the  church 
records  indicate  two  deacons  at  least,  acting  in  1721  and  1722,  while  this  table 
shows  but  one  from  1718  to  1724. 

"  Feb.  16,  1720-21.  The  deacons  together  with  brother  Isaac  Fuller,  [Desc. 
Cat.  91]  were  desired  to  take  the  most  proper  aud  speedy  methods  for  recover- 
ing the  ancient  and  original  records  of  the  affairs  of  this  church  to  the  time  of 
their  present  settlement."  [i.  e.  to  1708]. 

"  Dec.  19,1 721.  Brother  Isaac  Fuller  brought  a  remnant  of  the  ancient  rec- 
ords and  delivered  to  P.  Thacher." 

This  "  remnant"  we  know  nothing  farther  of;  but  the  copy,  p.  13,  by  Eben- 
ezer  Fuller,  the  nephew  of  Isaac,  may  have  been  made  from  it. 

"May  13.  1722.  Voted  that  the  two  deacons  br.  King  and  Sam'l  Wood  do 
meet,"  &c. 

P.  55.  Three  of  our  people  became  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  and  joined 
other  churches :  —  Daniel  Thomas,  minister  in  South  Abington,  Alvan  Cobb 
in  West  Taunton,  and  Stetson  Kaymond  in  Assonet  and  Scotland  [Bridge- 
water].  Of  the  members,  eleven  were  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  and  about  the 
same  number  pbyicians,  or  counsellors-at  law. 

P.  63.  —  The  west  precinct  was  incorporated  as  a  town  in  the  year  1853,  by 
the  name  of  Lakeville. 

Parish  Reco7-ds.  The  book  of  records  commencing  with  the  separation  and 
ordination  of  Kev.  S.  Conant  has  not  been  in  possession  of  the  parish  Clerk  for 
some  years  ;  and  the  committee  have  thus  been  deprived  of  access  to  it.  The 
course  pursued  by  Mr.  Bosworth,  p.  13,  is  commended  to  all  who  possess  docu- 
ments of  historic  value  to  this  church  and  parish. 


TWO   DISCOURSES 


ON 


THE  DIVINE  FAITHFULNESS 


AS  ILLUSTRATED  IN  THE  HISTORY  OP  THE 


FIRST  CHURCH  IN  MIDDLEBOROUGH,  MASS. 


DURING  THE  PERIOD  OF 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTY  YEARS. 


By   ISRAEL   W.    PUTNAM, 


EIGHTS     PAaiOE. 


PREACHED   JANUARY    5,    1845, 


FIRST  DISCOURSE. 

Psalm  CXIX,  90.    Thy  Faithfulness  is  unto  all  Generations. 

This  day,  my  hearers,  completes  the  period  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fiftij  years  from  the  foundation  of  the  First 
Church  in  Middleborough, — the  Church  of  Christ,  which 
was  then  gathered  on  this  ground,  and  with  which  we 
are  variously  connected. 

When  we  reflect  on  the  length  of  this  period,  on  the 
four  or  five  generations  which  have  passed  away  with  it, 
on  the  number  of  ministers  who  have  here  preached  the 
gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  on  the  many  hundreds  of  mem- 
bers, of  whom  the  church  has  at  different  times  been 
composed,  and  on  the  several  sanctuaries,  in  which  the 
church  and  the  people  have  worshiped : — when  we 
reflect  that  this  beloved  church  still  survives  the  period 
of  a  century  and  half,  and  that  it  is  looking  forward  with 
the  prospect  of  living  for  centuries  yet  to  come  : — and 
when,  moreover,  Ave  consider  that  all  the  blessings  it  has 
experienced,  and  all  it  hopes  for,  are  to  be  attributed  to 
the  grace  of  its  covenant-keeping  God,  we  may  well 
adopt  the  language  of  the  text,  and  say  unto  Him, 
"  Thy  faithfulness  is  unto  all  generations." 

From  the  records  which  have  been  preserved,  it  ap- 
pears that  this  church  was  organized  on  the  26th  day  of 
December,  A.  D.  1694,  old  d/jle,  which  corresponds  with 
the  6th  d.iy  of  January,  according  to  the  present  mode 
of  computing  time ;  so  that  the  hundred  and  fiftieth 
anniversary  actually  comes  to-morrow ;  still,  this  day 
closes  the  period  under  consideration,  and  for  all  practi- 
cal purposes  may  be  regarded  as  the  anniversary  day. 


The  general  sentiment  of  the  text  appears  to  be  tlie 
faithfulness  of  God  to  his  church  on  earth.  But  the  subject 
to  which  I  shall  specially  call  your  attention  to-day,  is 

The  faithfulness  of  God  to  this  particular  Church 
during  its  existence  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  years. 

My  plan  is 

I.  To  consider  the  attribute  of  the  Divine  Faithful- 
ness ;    and 

II.  To  show  how  it  has  been  illustrated  in  the  his- 
tory of  this  church. 

Let  us,  then,  in  the  first  place, 

I.  Meditate  on  the  glorious  attribute  of  God's  faith- 
fulness. This  divine  attribute  is  intimately  connected, 
with  another,  which  is  denominated  Truth.  They  may, 
however,  be  considered  separately.  By  the  truth  of  God 
is  intended  that  disposition  in  him,  by  which  he  always 
speaks  of  things  as  they  are  in  reality  ;  so  that  we  know, 
that  whatever  he  speaks  or  in  any  way  declares,  is  cssen- 
iiallij  tnie. 

The  faithfulness  of  God  refers  to  his  disposition  and  his 
power  always  to  perform  his  promises  and  fulfil  his  cov- 
enant engagements.  It  assures  all  the  subjects  of  his 
moral  kingdom,  that  they  will  never  be  disappointed  in 
any  of  the  expectations,  justly  raised  in  their  minds  by  the 
declarations  of  his  word,  or  the  dealings  of  his  hand. 

This  attribute  of  God  has  its  foundation  in  the  other 
essential  properties  of  his  nature  ; — or,  we  may  say,  it 
necessarily  belongs  to  the  character  of  Him,  who  in  his 
knowledge,  power  and  goodness,  is  "infinite,  eternal 
and  unchangeable  "  As  the  most  perfect  conception  we 
can  have  o?truth,'is  that  which  we  know  essentially  be- 


longs  to  the  character  of  God,  so  without  the  attribute  of 
faithfulness,  that  same  character  would  appear  essentially 
defective.  That  Being  who  is  absolutely  infinite  in  his 
knowledge,  power  and  goodness,  must  necessarily  be 
true  to  all  the  eno;ao;ements  he  enters  into  with  his  crea- 
tures.  He  has  no  possible  inducement  to  make  promises 
which  he  has  not  power  to  perform,  or  whose  perform- 
ance is  not  desirable  in  itself.  He  foresees  with  absolute 
certainty,  the  circumstances  in  which  his  engagements 
are  to  be  fulfilled,  and  what  also  will  be  the  consequence 
of  their  fulfilment.  His  infinite  goodness  inclines  him 
to  make  promises  to  his  creatures  of  all  that  his  infinite 
knowledo-e  foresees  will  be  desirable  for  them  and  that 
his  infinite  power  is  capable  of  accomplishing. 

Thus  you  see,  my  hearers,  that  the  argument  from  the 
other  known  and  perfect  attributes  of  God,  for  his  faith- 
fulness, is  entirely  conclusive ;  and  what  our  reason 
teaches  us  on  this  subject,  is  confirmed  by  the  plainest 
declarations  of  scripture,  and  is  illustrated  by  God's  cov- 
enant dealings  with  his  people,  in  all  ages.  The  lan- 
guage of  scrij)ture  is  very  explicit, — "  The  Lord  thy 
God,  He  is  God,  the  faithful  God,  which  keepeth  cove- 
nant and  mercy  with  them  that  love  him  and  keep  his 
commandments,  to  a  thousand  generations."  "  Ye  know 
in  all  your  hearts  and  in  all  your  souls,"  said  Joshua  to 
the  people  of  Israel,  "that  not  one  thing  hath  failed,  of 
all  the  good  things  which  the  Lord  your  God  spake  con- 
cerning you."  "  Thy  faithfulness,"  says  the  Psalmist, 
"  shalt  thou  establish  in  the  very  heavens."  And  the 
apostle  says  to  the  Thessalonians,  "  Faithful  is  he  that 
hath  called  you,  who  will  also  do  it ;  "  and  to  the  Hebrew 
Christians,  "  Let  us  hold  fast  the  profession  of  our  faith 
without  wavering;   for   he    is  faithful  that  promised." 


6 


But  it  is  very  important  for  us  to  consider  that  the 
promises  of  good  which  God  makes  to  his  people,  are  con- 
ditional. He  stipulates  what  he  will  positively  do  for 
them  on  ilie  condition  they  will  "  love  him  and  keep  his 
commandments."  When,  therefore,  any  of  his  true  peo- 
ple enter  into  covenant  engagements  with  the  Lord, 
whether  as  individuals  or  in  the  capacity  of  a  church, 
if  they  fail  of  strictly  performing  the  conditions  made  on 
their  part,  they  must  consider  that  by  thus  breaking  cov- 
enant with  God,  they  release  him  from  doing  what  he 
had  conditionally  promised,  and  that  their  appeal  can  then 
be  onlij  to  his  mercy.  It  is  in  the  relation  which  his  people 
thus  come  to  sustain  toward  him,  that  God  manifests  that 
patience  and  forbearance  tow\ard  them,  which  so  effect- 
ually illustrate  Us  faithfulness.  For  although  they  are 
guilty  of  a  breach  of  covenant  with  him,  yet  so  great  is 
his  love  for  them,  and  so  much  does  he  desire  to  remind 
them  of  the  blessings  which  he  was  willing  to  bestow, 
that,  actuated  by  his  long-suffering  goodness,  he  actually 
confers  upon  them  many  of  those  favors  which  were 
promised  in  his  covenant, — not  to  their  original  extent, 
but  so  far,  and  in  so  sovereign  a  manner,  as  to  show  that 
he  never  ceases  to  remember  the  gracious  provisions 
and  promises  of  that  covenant.  This  is  most  expressly 
and  beautifully  illustrated  in  what  God  says  of  the  seed 
of  the  righteous,  in  the  89th  Psalm.  "If  his  children 
forsake  my  law,  and  walk  not  in  my  judgments  ;  if  they 
break  my  statutes  and  keep  not  my  commandments  ; 
then  will  I  visit  their  transgressions  with  the  rod,  and 
their  iniquity  with  stripes  :  nevertheless,  my  loving  kind- 
ness will  I  not  utterly  take  from  him,  nor  suffer  my 
faithfulness  to  fail.  My  covenant  will  I  not  break, 
nor  alter  the  thing  that  is  gone  out  of  my  lips." 


This  general  principle  of  the  divine  faithfulness,  this 
constant  regard  for  the  provisions,  perpetuity  and  honor 
of  the  everlasting  covenant,  is  seen  to  display  itself  in 
the  dealings  of  God  with  the  whole  body  of  his  church 
on  earth,  and  with  all  the  different  portions  of  it. 

It  is  by  taking  this  view  of  the  adorable  attributes  of 
the  Divine  character,  and  of  the  covenant  faithfulness 
of  God  to  his  people,  that  we  can  come  to  a  satisfactory 
explanation  of  all  his  dealings  with  individual  believers 
or  with  any  portion  of  his  church.  They  are  often  guilty 
of  breaking  covenant  with  him,  and  thus  they  forfeit  all 
claim  to  those  blessings  which  had  been  promised  them 
on  condition  of  strict  obedience.  Then  they  suffer  for 
their  sins  by  God's  withholding  those  tokens  of  his  love, 
which  he  would  otherwise  have  manifested. 

This  accounts  for  what  individual  lelievers  often  suffer. 
They  violate  their  covenant  vows,  and  God  does  not 
then  bestow  on  them  what  they  might  otherwise  have 
enjoyed  ;  and  he  sometimes  proceeds  to  chasten  them 
for  their  sins.  He  visits  them  with  temporal  trials,  and 
not  unfrequently  with  spiritual  afflictions.  The  light  of 
his  countenance  is  withdrawn,  and  they  walk  in  dark- 
nesss  ;  and  sometimes  he  judicially  leaves  them  to  great 
coldness  in  his  service,  to  much  wandering  from  the  path 
of  christian  duty,  and  even  to  the  commission  of  open 
sin,  which  brings  reproach  upon  their  own  characters, 
and  scandal  upon  the  christian  name. 

But  it  is  to  be  remembered  that  in  thus  chastening  indi- 
vidual believers  for  breaches  of  his  covenant,  and  in  after- 
wards mercifully  appearing  for  their  relief,  by  bringing 
them  to  repentance  and  recovery  from  their  wandering 
state,  God  acts  entirely  as  a  sovereign.  He  suffers  some  to  go 
on  farther  than  others,  in  their  backsliding  course ;  and 


8 


the  strokes  of  his  chastening  rod  are  heavier  on  some 
than  on  others,  even  when  their  sins  are  no  greater. 
So  also  he  appears  for  the  restoration  of  some  sooner 
than  for  that  of  others ;  and  all  this  because  he  is  a  sov- 
ereign and  deals  with  his  offending  people,  now  in  a. 
chastening  and  now  in  a  pardoning  way,  for  reasons 
which  he  does  not  mean  that  either  they  or  others  shall 
be  able  fully  to  comprehend. 

So  it  is  with  his  church  on  earth,  considered  collec- 
tively. So  it  is  with  different  portions  of  it,  and  with  each 
individual  church.  Believers,  in  their  collective  capacity, 
from  time  to  time  fail  more  or  less  in  strict  obedience 
to  their  covenant  engagements  with  God.  The  sins  of 
individual  believers  become  the  sins  of  the  church,  espe- 
cially if  they  are  open  sins  and  not  protested  against  and 
properly  censured. 

The  departure  of  a  church  from  the  strict  terms  of 
their  covenant  with  God,  is  generally  much  more  grad- 
ual than  that  of  individuals.  This  is  seen  in  their  falling 
away  from  sound  christian  doctrine.  It  has  sometimes 
taken  not  only  years,  but  generations,  for  a  church  to 
give  up  "  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints,"  and  to 
come  fully  to  embrace    an  unscriptural  one  in  its  stead. 

The  same  is  true  of  the  ordinances  belonging  to  the 
covenant  of  God,  under  the  christian  dispensation  ;  which 
are.  Public  Worship,  Baptism,  and  the  Lord's  Supper. 
Loose  and  erroneous  views  of  these  ordinances  are  gen- 
erally found  to  prevail  in  a  church,  if  at  all,  in  a  very 
gradual  manner,  till  at  length  the  departure  is  open  ta 
the  view  of  the  world  and  offensive  to  God. 

So  also  it  is  with  the  tone  of  moral  conduct  in  a 
church.  Sometimes  it  is  such  as  becomes  the  gospel  of 
Christ ;  at  other  times  more  or  less  of  its  members  leave 


9 


their  first  love  ;  they  cast  off  fear  and  restrain  prayer. 
L'ke  tha  heathen  '-  they  become  vain  in  their  imag- 
inations, and  their  fooUsh  heart  is  darkened."  They 
yield  to  the  "  hist  of  the  flesh,  the  hist  of  the  eyes  or  the 
pride  of  hfe,"  till  their  sins  of  commission  or  of  omission 
are  so  open  and  reproachful  as  to  call  for  the  reprehen- 
sion of  the  chnrch. 

But,  as  has  been  observed,  such  a  downward  course  of 
any  considerable  number  of  the  members  of  a  church  is 
generally  very  gradual ;  and  in  this  connection  it  may 
be  remarked,  that  very  gradual  also  is  the  conduct  of  a 
church  in  coming  to  neglect  that  discipline  which  Christ 
has  appointed,  and  which  is  so  essential  to  its  welfare. 
If  one  public  sin  is  tolerated  in  a  church,  and  if,  on  ac- 
count of  fear  or  favor,  or  from  any  other  cause,  a  flagrant 
oflender  is  suffered  to  go  on  unrebuked  and  uncensured, 
others  will  yield  to  temptation,  and  fall  into  the  same 
or  other  sins,  till  at  last  there  is  left  in  the  church  scarcely 
streng-th  enoug^h  to  undertake  and  sustain  the  neces- 
sary  and  saving  work  of  scriptural  discipline. 

These  remarks  on  the  religious  declension  of  individ- 
ual christians  and  churches,  I  have  made,  my  hearers, 
to  meet  the  difficulty  which  is  sometimes  felt  in  vindi- 
cating the  divine  faiUifuliicss,  a  difficulty  which  I  do  not 
wish  to  avoid.  For  if  the  inquiry  is  made,  how  it  comes 
to  pass  that  individual  christians  do  sometimes  so  lament- 
ably decline  in  their  spiritual  interests,  conduct,  and 
whole  character,  even  after  they  have  entered  into  cov- 
enant with  God,  who  has  made  such  "  exceeding  great 
and  precious  promises"  to  them,  and  who  is  a  faithful 
God  ? — And  if  the  further  inquiry  should  be  made,  why 
it  is  that  churches,  established  at  first  in  the  true  faith 
of  the  gospel,  and  whose  members  are  members  of 
2 


10 


Christ's  own  body,  should  after  a  while  cease  to  hold 
fast  that  faith,  and  should  become  cold  in  their  religious 
affections,  worldly  in  their  conduct,  and  lax  in  their  dis- 
cipline, even  Avhen  they  had  the  covenant  promises  and 
faithfulness  of  God  pledged  to  them  ?  The  answer  to 
all  this  is  easy.  The  faithfulness  of  God  to  his  covenant 
engagements  does  not  obligate  him  to  keep  his  people 
in  either  their  individual  or  their  church  capacity  from 
committing  sin.  They  remain  free  moral  agents,  and 
are  put  upon  trial  as  such.  All  needed  good,  God  prom-* 
ises  them  on  condition  of  strict  obedience  to  him.  But 
if  they  fail  of  this,  if  they  break  covenant  with  God,  he 
is  released  from  all  obligation  to  confer  on  them  wdiat 
they  might  otherwise  have  received.  And  if  the  inquiry 
is  now  made,  whether  they  are  not  still  his  people  ? 
the  answer  is,  yes ;  and  he  will  still  deal  with  them  as  a- 
faithful  God.  His  dispensations  toward  them  will,  in 
one  view,  be  in  the  nature  of  just  punishment  for  their 
sins,  but  in  another  they  will  be  the  fatherly  corrections 
of  loving  kindness  and  faithfulness.  In  the  disciplinary 
course  which  he  pursues  with  them  on  account  of  the 
violation  of  their  own  vows  and  engagements,  he  pro- 
ceeds, as  has  already  been  remarked,  in  an  entirely  sov- 
ereign manner.  He  has  infinitely  wise  reasons  for  cor- 
recting and  restoring  them  at  one  time  immediately,  and 
for  suffering  them  at  another  to  go  great  lengths  in 
disobedience,  and  even  to  accumulate  a  heavy  weight  of 
guilt,  before  he  corrects  them,  and  causes  them  to  return 
from  their  evil  ways,  by  repentance  and  vows  of  new 
obedience. 

But  there  is  a  very  noticeable  difference  in  the  ulti- 
mate dealings  of  God  with  individual  believers  and  with 
churches  respectively.    Those  who  are  his  chosen  people^ 


11 


renewed  by  his  spirit,  and  sanctified  by  his  grace,  will  cer- 
tainly, according  to  the  gracious  provisions  of  his  cove- 
nant, be  finally  saved.  They  may  forsake  his  law,  they 
may  break  his  statutes,  so  that  God  will  visit  their  trans- 
gressions with  the  rod ;  nevertheless  he  will  not  utterly 
take  his  loving-kindness  from  them,  nor  suffer  his  faithful- 
ness to  fail.  Such  is  the  teaching  of  the  New  Testament, 
as  well  as  of  the  Old.  '  He  who  begins  a  good  w^ork  in  the 
heart  of  any  sinful  child  of  Adam,  will  perform  it  until 
the  day  of  Jesus  Christ.'  Thus  the  tenor  of  God's  gra- 
cious covenant  secures  the  final  salvation  of  every  true 
believer,  while  none  but  God  himself  knows  who  are  of 
this  character. 

But  such  is  not  the  tenor  of  God's  covenant  dealings 
with  any  particular  church.  All  true  believers  in  such  a 
church,  as  I  have  already  stated,  will  be  finally  saved, 
because  the  promise  of  God  secures  their  salvation.  But 
the  church  itself  may  so  decline  from  its  primitive  purity 
in  doctrine,  conduct  and  discipline,  that  God  will  finally 
forsake  it.  Its  individual  members,  if  they  are  true  mem- 
bers of  Christ's  body,  he  will  save,  whether  they  live  and 
die  in  connection  with  such  a  church,  or  elsewhere. 
But  the  church  itself,  if  it  persevere  in  its  departure 
from  christian  faith  and  christian  obedience,  beyond  the 
point  of  divine  endurance,  will  inevitably  come  to  nought. 
Its  light  will  be  extinguished,  its  name  will  die.  Such 
we  know  is  the  history  of  some  churches  planted  in  apos- 
tolic times,  and  in  subsequent  ages  of  the  world. 

But  I  would  by  no  means  be  understood  here  to  say 
that  ever}^  local  church  which,  after  a  lapse  of  time 
ceases  to  exist,  comes  to  its  end  in  consequence  of  its 
departure  from  the  gospel ;  for  in  many  instances  it  is 
for  the  welfare  of  the  church  at  large,  that  individual 


12 


portions  of  it  should  cease  to  have  a  separate  existence, 
and  become  united  with  some  other  portions.  Thus 
also,  sometimes,  are  larger  portions  of  the  church  seen 
gradually  diminishing,  till  thej  become  united  with  other 
christian  connections,  and  appear  under  a  new  name. 

It  requires,  my  hearers,  much  careful  study  of  the 
word  of  God,  and  much  observation  on  his  dealings  with 
his  church  on  earth,  duly  to  understand  the  import  of 
those  promises,  on  whose  due  fulfilment  rests  his  charac- 
ter for  covenant  faithfulness.  Against  the  church,  consid- 
ered in  its  largest  sense,  as  the  great  body  of  believers 
in  all  ages  of  the  world,  bought  with  Christ's  own  blood, 
we  know  that  the  gates  of  hell  will  never  prevail.  And 
in  its  most  exact  sense  are  the  words  of  my  text  true, 
when  applied  to  the  church  in  this  respect ;  "  The  faith- 
fulness of  God  is  unto  all  generations  "  of  his  chosen,  cov- 
enant people,  in  every  age,  and  in  whatever  part  of 
the  world  they  dwell ;  whatever  name  they  bear,  or 
whatever  be  their  rank  or  condition  in  life ;  and  by  a 
very  observable  analogy  in  the  dealings  of  God  with 
his  people,  we  may  see  that  his  faithfulness  endures  to 
any  large  portion  of  his  church  or  to  any  one  particular 
church,  very  much  in  proportion  to  its  own  faithfulness 
in  adhering  to  its  covenant  vows  and  engagements.  If 
it  is  at  first  established  in  the  truth  ;  if  it  is  "  built  upon 
the  foundation  of  the  apostles  and  prophets,  Jesus  Christ 
himself  being  the  chief  corner  stone  ;  "  if  it  adheres  to 
the  doctrines,  if  it  shows  forth  the  graces,  if  it  practices 
the  virtues  of  the  gospel,  and  if  it  seeks  the  glory  of  its 
divine  author, — we  may  observe,  as  a  general  thing,  that 
its  divine  head  is  pleased  with  its  character,  and  that  in 
his  covenant  faithfulness  he  will  watch  over  its  interests, 
.and  continue  its  existence  for  along  period.    .True,  per- 


10 
O 


secution  may  arise  against  it,  and  other  inscrutable  dis- 
pensations of  providence  may  affect  its  prosperity  and 
even  its  existence.  But  so  well  defined  in  his  word  are 
the  principles  on  which  God  governs  his  church  on 
earth,  and  so  uniform  are  his  dealings  with  the  various 
portions  of  it,  that  his  faithfulness  is  very  gloriously 
illustrated  in  the  favor  which  he  shows  any  individual 
church  that  fears  his  name  and  walks  in  his  statutes. 
The  word  spoken  by  the  prophet  Azariah  to  God's  an- 
cient people,  has  a  strict  fulfilment  in  the  history  of  his 
dealings  with  his  church  in  all  ages.  ^'  The  Lord  is  with 
you,  while  ye  be  with  him ;  if  you  seek  him,  he  will  be 
found  of  you;  but  if  you  forsake  him,  he  will  forsake 
you." 

Let  us  now,  my  hearers,  as  was  proposed,  proceed  to 
consider 

II.  How  the  divine  faithfulness  has  been  illustrated 
in  the  history  of  this  Church,  during  the  period  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  years. 

You  perceive,  at  once,  that  the  field  of  inquiry  and 
remark  on  which  I  am  now  entering  is  very  wide.  I 
shall  be  obliged,  as  I  proceed,  very  much  to  limit  myself 
in  selecting  from  the  facts  of  our  history,  and  in  the  rea- 
soning which  is  founded  on  them.  But  it  relieves  my 
mind  on  this  point,  to  know  that  a  committee  of  the 
church  are  preparing  for  publication  such  a  particular 
account  of  its  history,  as  I  might  otherwise  deem  it  im- 
portant to  furnish  on  this  occasion.  Still,  I  trust  that, 
with  divine  aid,  I  shall  be  able  to  exhibit  such  brief  views 
of  the  subject,  as  may  lead  you,  my  friends,  and  all  the 
present  generation  of  this  people,  to  see  that  the  God 
of  your  fathers  is  "  a  faithful  God,  keeping  covenant  and 
mercy  with  them  that  love  him  and  keep  his  command- 
ments, to  a  thousand  generations." 


■,    \ 

w 


14 


1.  The  first  proof  of  God's  faithfulness  to  this  church 
is  found  in  the  consideration  that  he  has  graciously  sus- 
tained it,  in  adhering  to  the  great  gospel  principles  on 
which  it  was  originally  established. 

That  we  may  clearly  see  the  truth  of  this  remark,  it  will 
be  necessary  to  dw^ell  somewhat  particularly  on  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  formation  of  the  church.  As  I  have 
already  remarked,  it  was  organized  in  the  winter  of 
1G94-5,  bearing  the  date  of  December  26th,  old  style. 
The  present  day,  Jan.  5th,  closes  the  hundred  and  fif- 
tieth year  of  its  existence. 

The  gathering  of  the  church  in  Middleborough,  at  that 
early  period  of  the  history  of  New  England,  was  an  in- 
teresting event.  The  town  was  very  large  in  its  territo- 
rial dimensions,  and  its  population  had  even  then 
become  very  considerable ;  for  it  is  stated  that  at  the 
breaking  out  of  king  Philip's  war,  so  called,  in  1675,  the 
number  of  English  families  that  had  settled  here  was 
sixteen ;  and  although  they  were  then  driven  from  the 
place,  yet  at  the  close  of  the  war  the  population  must 
have  rapidly  increased,  as  Mr.  Fuller,  a  deacon  of  the 
church  at  Plymouth,  and  one  of  the  proprietors  in  1669 
began  early  to  preach  here  and  continued  his  labors  with 
occasional  intermissions  till  1694,  w^hen,  at  the  gathering 
of  the  church,  he  was  regularly  ordained  to  the  work 
of  the  christian  ministry. 

All  the  original  records  of  the  church  from  its  organ- 
ization to  the  close  of  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Palmer,  the 
second  pastor,  are,  no  doubt,  irrecoverably  lost ;  and,  as 
has  generally  been  supposed,  through  his  neglect,  or  his 
other  more  censurable  conduct.  But  recently  an  an- 
cient manuscript  has  come  to  us  from  Halifax,  which 
proves  to  be  a  copy  of  an  important  part  of  those  original 


I 


15 


records,  made  in  March,  1734,  by  Ebenezer  Fuller,  a 
grandson  of  the  pastor.  This  copy  of  the  records,  togeth- 
er with  a  pamphlet  printed  in  1722,  containing  the 
Confession  of  Faith  and  Covenant,  and  specific  acknowl- 
edgments of  the  obligations  of  the  covenant,  enable  us 
now  very  clearly  to  understand  the  interesting  and  sol- 
emn character  of  the  oro-anization  of  the  church. 

Several  members  of  the  church  of  Plymouth,  and 
other  neighboring  churches  w^ere  then  residing  here. 
There  were  others  also,  who  had  become  hopefully  con- 
verted under  the  preaching  of  Mr.  Fuller.  These  per- 
sons, being  very  distant  from  any  churches  with  which 
they  could  hold  constant  christian  communion,  naturally 
had  the  desire  and  conceived  the  design  of  being  them- 
selves formed  into  a  distinct  church.  In  accordance, 
therefore,  with  the  usages  of  the  pilgrim  churches,  they 
sent  letters  for  ministers  and  brethren  in  the  colony,  to 
come  and  perform  the  requisite  ecclesiastical  services. 
The  Rev.  Messrs.  John  Cotton,  Roland  Cotton,  and  Jona- 
than Russel,  with  lay  brethren,  were  sent  from  Plymouth, 
Sandwich,  and  Barnstable,  to  assist  on  the  occasion. 

As  it  may  be  gratifying  to  this  audience  to  hear  the 
names  of  those  who  at  first  composed  the  church  of 
Middleborough,  I  will  here  repeat  them  : — Rev.  Samuel 
Fuller,  and  Elisabeth  his  wife  ;  John  Bennett,  and  Deb- 
orah his  wife  ;  Jonathan  Morse,  and  Mary  his  wife  ; 
Abiel  Wood,  and  Abigail  his  wife  ;  Jacob  Thompson, 
and  Abigail  his  wife ;  Ebenezer  Tinkham,  and  Elisabeth 
his  wife  ;  Samuel  Wood,  Isaac  Billington,  Samuel  Eaton, 
Samuel  Cuthbert,  John  Cobb,  Jr.,  Weibrah  Bumpas, 
Hester  Tinkham,  and  widow  Deborah  Bard  en. 

The  services  were  of  a  very  solemn  character,  as  you 
would  readily  see,  my  hearers,  if  there  were  time  for  me  to 


16 


read  to  you  the  articles  of  faith  which  they  adopted,  the 
covenant  which  they  entered  into,  and  the  particuhir 
obhgations  which  they  considered  to  be  imposed  on 
them  by  that  covenant. 

Respecting  the  confession  of  faith,  I  would  only  say 
now  that  it  was  very  full  and  explicit  on  all  those  doctrines 
which  our  pilgrim  fathers  considered  as  clearly  revealed 
in  the  scripture,  viz  : — the  inspired  authority  of  the  Old 
and  New  Testaments,  as  a  sufficient  and  the  only  rule  of 
faith  and  practice,  in  opposition  to  all  opinions  of  indi- 
vidual men,  and  all  decisions  of  ecclesiastical  councils  ; 
a  trinity  of  persons  in  the  God-head  ;  the  supreme  divin- 
ity of  the  son  Jesus  Christ ;  the  personality  and  divinity 
of  the  Holy  Spirit ;  the  total  depravity  of  the  human 
heart  in  its  natural  state,  and  its  renewal  by  the  sove- 
reign operation  of  the  Holy  Spirit ;  atonement  for  sin 
by  the  blood  of  Christ,  and  justification  by  his  righteous- 
ness alone ;  election  and  perseverance  of  the  saints ; 
resurrection  of  the  dead  and  final  judgment  of  the  world, 
when  the  righteous  will  be  received  into  heaven  and 
the  wicked  be  cast  into  hell. 

As  to  Positive  Institutions,  they  held  to  the  com- 
mon belief  of  the  sacredness  of  the  Sabbath,  and  the 
sacraments  of  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper ;  the  for- 
mer to  be  administered  to  believers  and  their  infant  off- 
spring, and  the  latter  to  all  who  are  regular  members  of 
the  church  of  Christ.  On  the  subject  of  Church  Consti- 
tution and  Government,  they  held  that  a  Christian 
church  was  a  company  of  christian  believers,  voluntarily 
associated  for  their  own  religious  improvement,  with 
rules  of  conduct  agreeing  with  the  scriptures,  and  them- 
selves having  authority  to  administer  censures  on  mem- 
bers who  walk  disorderly,  and    not  being   required   to 


17 


refer  their  decisions  to  any  other  earthly  tribunal ;  all 
which,  considered  in  connection  with  their  views  of  the 
two  sacraments,  and  of  the  respective  offices  of  pastor 
and  deacon,  gave,  as  they  believed,  the  true  idea  of  a 
congregational  church. 

The  covenant  which  they  entered  into,  and  which  is 
very  particular  in  its  stipulations,  bound  them  in  the 
most  solemn  manner  to  the  love  and  service  of  God,  to 
great  respect  for  and  subjection  to  the  christian  ministry, 
and  to  all  true  christian  deportment  and  duty  to  one 
another. 

I  regret  that  it  is  not  practicable  for  me  here  to  recite 
to  you  the  whole  of  the  confession  of  faith  and  covenant 
in  the  very  words  used  on  the  occasion,  as  they  were 
very  well  selected  and  convey  a  very  clear  meaning  to 
every  mind,  while  they  show  a  spirit  of  deep  and  heav- 
enly piety  on  the  part  of  those,  who  adopted  them.  But 
I  trust  you  will  yet  have  an  opportunity  to  read  it  all 
in  another  form,  which  shall  be  preserved  for  your  chil- 
dren and  your  children's  children,  as  evidence  of  the 
exalted  christian  character  of  their  ancestors. 

After  the  church  was  duly  constituted,  in  accordance 
with  the  confession  and  covenant  already  named,  Mr. 
Samuel  Fuller,  then  at  the  advanced  age  oi  seventy  years, 
was  duly  ordained  as  its  first  pastor. 

Such,  my  hearers,  was  the  gathering,  one  hundred 
and  fifty  years  ago,  of  this  beloved  church,  which  yet 
lives.  Such  were  those  christian  men  and  women,  who 
at  that  time  were  here  engaged  in  the  solemn  transac- 
tions which  so  deeply  concerned  their  own  salvation 
and  that  of  their  posterity  for  generations  to  come.  I 
shall,  with  divine  leave,  in  the  afternoon  consider  more 
particularly  than  I  have  here  done,  how  Godp  in  his  cov- 


18 


enant  faithfulness,  has  sustained  this  church  during  all  its 
generations,  in  adhering  to  the  principles  on  which  it  was 
originally  founded. 

And  now  I  beg  you  to  pause  a  little  and  reflect  on 
the  scene  exhibited  here  on  this  ground,  in  the  winter 
of  that  far  distant  year  of  the  foundation  of  this  church. 
You  will  remember  that  Middleborough  was  not  then 
what  it  now  is.  These  cultivated  fields,  these  convenient 
roads,  these  comfortable  dwellings,  this  goodly  sanctuary, 
and  these  numerous  conveniences  for  coming  to  it,  were 
all  unknown  to  your  pilgrim  fathers  and  mothers,  who 
assembled  here  on  that  cold  day  of  January,  1695,  and 
stood  up  in  simplicity  and  Godly  sincerity,  as  well  as 
with  holy  reverence,  to  avouch  the  Lord  Jehovah  to  be 
their  God,  while  He  avouched  them  to  be  his  people. 
No,  they  knew  nothing  of  the  favored  condition  in 
which  we  are  placed,  for  attending  on  the  worship  of 
God  ;  nor  did  they  need  it ;  for  they  were  christians  of 
the  generations  that  are  gone.  Theirs  was  the  early 
pilgrim  character,  strong  in  faith,  devoted  m  purpose, 
self-denying  in  practice,  and  fearless  in  conscientious 
obedience. 

From  what  particular  parts  of  the  Plymouth  colony 
most  of  them  came,  is  now  unknown.  Some  were  from 
the  original  place  of  landing,  being  children  of  the  very 
people  who  came  over  in  the  May-flower  and  first  plant- 
ed their  feet  on  the  Plymouth  Rock.  Others  probably 
came  from  England  in  subsequent  years.  But  here  they 
sought  a  dwelling  place,  here  they  fixed  their  home  ; 
and  although  these  grounds  were  not  then  so  'waste 
and  howling'  as  were  the  shores  of  Plymouth  in  1620, 
yet  they  were  little  better  than  a  "  wilderness,"  comj'tared 
with  what  thcv  now  are.     But  such  was  tlie    character 


19 


of  the  early  settlers  of  this  town,  so  much  were  they  like 
the  generation,  who  went  before  them,  such  lovers  of 
rehgious  and  civil  liberty,  that  they  little  heeded  the 
humble  circumstances  in  which  they  were  necessitated 
to  worship  that  God,  whom  they  loved  and  served. 

They  believed  they  were  here  founding  a  church,  in 
which  they  were  to  hold  communion  with  their  Saviour, 
and  which  they  were  to  leave  to  their  children  for  gene- 
rations to  come.  They  rejoiced,  therefore,  to  give  them- 
selves up  first  to  the  great  Jehovah,  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghost,  and  then  to  one  another  in  him.  They  were 
heartily  willing  to  bind  themselves  to  his  service  by  the 
most  solemn  promises  and  vows.  They  believed  that  he 
was  a  faithful  God,  and  would  fulfil  all  his  covenant 
engagements.  They  trembled  only  for  themselves. 
They  knew  their  own  weakness.  They  felt  the  danger 
they  were  in,  by  reason  of  their  sinfulness,  of  violating 
their  covenant  vows.  Could  you  hear  the  solemn  pro- 
testations which  they  made  against  the  evil  of  departing 
from  God,  by  failing  in  any  way  to  live  a  truly  christian 
life,  you  would  be  convinced  how  great  was  the  tender- 
ness of  their  conscience,  and  what  abhorrence  they  felt 
in  view  of  all  sin. 

As  you,  my  christian  friends,  who  are  their  successors, 
are  now  going  to  observe  the  same  holy  ordinance  which 
was  administered  to  them  upon  their  being  constituted 
a  church  of  Christ,  let  me  say  to  you,  come  with  adoring 
gratitude  to  a  faithful  and  covenant-keeping  God,  to  the 
same  table,  which  was  spread  here  in  1695,  for  those 
primitive  christians  of  Middleborough ;  and  come  too, 
under  the  influence  of  the  same  holy  dread  of  sinning 
ao;ainst  God.  and  with  the  same  entire  consecration  of 
yourselves  to  the  service  of  the  Redeemer,  which  you 


20 


have  seen  manifested  in  their  example.  They  are  gone, 
long  since,  to  sit  down  at  the  "  marriage-supper  of  the 
Lamb ; "  and  to  that  heavenly  feast  you  also  will  finally 
be  admitted,  if  you  are  found  clothed  with  the  wedding 
garment  which  the  Saviour  hath  purchased  for  you,  at 
the  price  of  his  own  blood.     Amen. 


SECOND  DISCOURSE. 

Psalm  CXIX,  90.    Tht  Faithpulkess  is  unto  all  Generations. 

A  considerable  part  of  my  morning  discourse  was 
occupied,  as  you  will  recollect,  my  hearers,  in  consider- 
ing the  general  attribute  of  the  Divine  Faithfulness.  I 
proceeded,  however,  a  little  way,  in  showing  what  was 
proposed  in  the  second  place  : — 

II.  How  the  Faithfulness  of  God  has  been  illustrated 
in  the  history  of  this  church. 

1.  The  first  consideration,  which  I  presented  to  show 
the  truth  of  this  sentiment,  was,  that  God  has  graciously 
sustained  the  church  in  adhering  to  the  great  gospel 
principles  on  which  it  was  originally  established. 

I  have  already  stated,  that  these  principles  were  a 
belief  in  the  doctrines  commonly  called  The  Doctrines 
of  the  Reformation,  an  exercise  of  the  Graces,  and  a 
careful  practice  of  the  Virtues  enjoined  in  the  gospel, — 
together  with  a  due  observance  of  its  Positive  Institutions, 
— such  as  the  Holy  Sabbath,  Baptism  for  penitent  believ- 
ers and  their  infant  offspring,  and  the  sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  Supper  to  be  administered  to  all  who  make  a 
credible  profession  of  the  gospel,  and  maintain  an  orderly 
walk  as  members  of  the  church. 

From  what  I  have  said  respecting  the  formation  of 
this  Church,  at  the  distant  period  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years,  you  have  been  able  to  see  how  strong  was 
the  attachment  of  its  original  members  to  the  great 
christian  principles  here  enumerated.  We  have  the 
most  satisfactory  reason  to  believe  also,  that  God  smiled 


22 


upon  the  clmrch  at  its  organization.  Then  did  the  High 
and  Holy  One  here  enter  into  solemn  covenant  with  his 
chosen,  devoted  people.  He  pledged  his  everlasting 
faithfulness  to  them  as  a  church ;  nor  has  that  faithful- 
ness ever  failed.  Trials  he  has,  at  different  times,  sent 
upon  them.  Early  afflictions,  and  severe  ones  they  had, 
soon  after  they  were  organized,  as  we  shall  presently  see, 
when  we  look  at  the  sudden  departure  of  their  first  pas- 
tor, and  the  character  of  his  successor.  But  at  no  period 
of  the  history  of  the  church  has  there  been  a  professed, 
or  a  real  abandonment  of  any  of  the  great  principles,  on 
which  it  was  at  first  established. 

Other  churches,  formed  at  that  time,  and  in  this  part 
of  New  England,  have  forsaken  "  the  faith  once  deliv- 
ered to  the  saints,"  the  faith  of  their  Pilgrim  Fathers, 
and  have  gone  over  to  the  side  of  religious  error.  But 
it  has  been  otherwise  with  this  church.  During  the 
period  of  a  century  and  half,  it  has  steadily  adhered  to 
a  firm  belief  in  the  great  Doctrines  of  the  Cross.  It  has 
been  willing  to  settle  no  minister,  who  was  known  to 
reject  these  doctrines. 

It  has,  at  different  times,  varied  the  form  of  its  Eeligious 
Creed  ;  but  under  no  form,  which  it  has  ever  adopted, 
so  far  as  I  can  discover,  has  it  given  up  any  one  essential 
christian  truth,  which  was  in  its  original  confession  of 
faith ;  and  it  may  be  well  doubted,  whether,  with  the 
exception  of  some  slight  phraseology,  it  has  ever  had  a 
better  one  than  it  had  at  the  beginning. 

The  same  may  be  said,  as  a  general  truth,  respecting 
the  prevailing  sentiment  of  the  church  on  the  subject  of 
practical  religion.  It  is  very  obvious,  that  our  fathers  of 
the  first  generation  of  this  church  regarded  a  life  of  prac- 
tical piety  as  an  indispensable  part  of  christian  character, 


and  as  a  uniform  condition  of  church  membership.  Their 
confession  of  faith,  their  covenant  engagements,  their  sol- 
emn protestations  against  sin  in  all  its  forms,  show  in  a 
most  convincing  manner,  what  stress  they  laid  upon  true 
Holy  Living.  Nor  has  the  church,  at  any  time,  varied  its 
■  belief,  if  it  has,  in  any  degree,  its  practice,  on  this  subject : 
and  that  would  be  a  day  of  ill  omen  to  its  future  prosper- 
ity, that  should  show  a  willingness,  on  the  part  of  its 
members,  to  regard  anything,  short  of  a  life  of  vital  god- 
liness, as  evidence  of  real  christian  character,  or  that 
Yv^ould  dispense  with  it  as  a  necessary  qualification  for 
admission  to  their  communion. 

As  intimately  connected  with  this  subject  may  also  be 
considered  that  of  Church  Discipline.  The  original  cove- 
nant of  the  church  fully  provided  for  this  ;  and  in  accord- 
ance with  it,  a  strict  discipline  was  maintained.  But  it 
was  a  church  discipline  for  the  benefit  of  offenders,  as 
well  as  for  the  honor  of  the  Saviour's  name.  It  consisted 
in  a  kind  and  faithful  watch  over  one  another  for  mutual 
good ;  and  the  measures  adopted  to  reclaim  any  who 
had  gone  astray,  were  those  of  gentleness  and  love, 
remonstrating  with  an  offender  on  the  folly  and  ingrati- 
tude, as  well  as  wickedness  of  his  conduct ;  in  a  word, 
it  was  to  gain  a  wandering  brother,  and  bring  him  back 
to  christian  obedience,  and  not  to  denounce  him  as  an 
evil  doer,  or  by  any  imposing  measures  of  church  author- 
ity, to  aim  at  holding  him  up  before  the  world  as  a  rep- 
robate. Still,  it  was  their  practice  to  withdraw  from  an 
offending  member  who  would  not  hear  the  voice  of  the 
church,  and  henceibrth  to  regard  him  according  to  the 
Saviour's  direction,  "  as  an  heathen  man  and  a  publican." 

Such  have  been  the  views  of  this  churcli  on  the  sub- 
ject of  discipline.     Not  that  we  can  say  it   has   been  as 


24 


well  understood,  and  as  strictly  and  carefully  enforced,  at 
all  times,  as  it  was  with  the  first  generations.  But  the 
church  has  ever  professed  its  belief  that  its  prosperity 
could  never  be  hoped  for,  unless  in  the  preservation  of 
the  purity  of  its  members. 

But  I  would  remark  once  more  under  this  head,  that 
the  church  has  been  sustained  in  adhering,  to  a  com- 
mendable extent,  to  a  practical  regard  for  the  Positive 
Institutions  of  the'gospel,  as  it  found  them  acknowl- 
edged and  observed  by  those  of  the  first  generation. 
The  Sabbath  was  kept  very  strictly  by  the  Puritans  of 
New  England  ;  and  this  church  has  ever  regarded  it  as 
a  day  of  holy  rest.  Our  Fathers  also  attached  great 
importance  to  the  ordinance  of  Christian  Baptism, 
They  held,  not  only  in  common  with  all  christian 
denominations,  that  those,  who  had  never  been  baptiz- 
ed, should  receive  that  ordinance  on  their  admission  to 
the  church ;  but  that  it  was  also  to  be  administered  to 
the  infant  children  of  God's  covenant  people.  The 
church  was  strictly  a  Pedobaptist  church.  All  its 
ministers  have  been  of  that  sentiment,  as  were  its  other 
officers,  and  its  several  members  for  many  generations. 
Great  harmony  has  generally  prevailed  in  the  church 
on  this  subject,  and  great  spiritual  blessings,  it  is  believ- 
ed, have  come  not  only  to  the  church,  but  to  the  souls 
of  this  people  in  consequence  of  the  early  consecration 
of  the  children  of  believers  to  God  in  the  holy  ordinance 
of  baptism.  I  am  aware  that,  very  recently,  some  change 
of  sentiment  and  practice  has  obtained  in  the  church. 
They  have,  in  their  charity,  cordially  admitted  to  their 
communion  some,  who  have  differed  from  them  on  this 
point, — always,  however,  I  believe,  with  the  understand- 
ing, thai  such  practice  i^hould  not,  in  its  ultimate  influ- 


25 


erlce,  have  the  effect  of  changing  the  character  of  the 
church  from  what  it  had  been  from  the  beo:inning>  in  a 
Pedobaptist  respect,  or  in  any  way  prejudice  the 
rights  and  privileges  of  those,  who  hold  that  the  bles- 
sings of  God's  gracious  covenant  extends  to  the  seed  of 
believers.  This  is  not  the  time  for  discussing  that 
point ;  if  it  were,  much  could  I  say  in  support  of  the 
scriptural  character  of  the  practice  in  question. 

The  other  ordinance, — that  of  the  Lord's  Supper, — ^I 
hardly  need  say  has  ever  been  sacredly  observed  by  the 
church ;  and,  as  connected  with  it,  I  would  add,  that 
it  has  been  an  invariable  principle  with  the  church  to 
receive  none  into  their  communion,  who  did  not  give 
credible  evidence  of  being  subjects  of  a  gracious  re-^ 
iiewal  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  of  saving  faith  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  Invitations  also  for  occasional  commun- 
ion they  always  cheerfully  extend  to  "  all  members  of 
other  churches,  who  are  in  regular  standing  in  their  own 
connection." 

But  I  am  dwelling  long  upon  the  first  topic :  and,  yet 
I  have  not  seen  how  I  could  say  less  than  I  have  done. 
Will  you  now,  my  friends,  turn  your  minds,  and  see  how 
God's  faithfulness  to  this  beloved  church  has  been  man- 
ifested in  the  gracious  aid  he  has  given  them  to  adhere, 
for  so  long  a  period,  to  the  great  gospel  principles  in 
which  it  was  established  by  the  flithers  of  the  first  gen- 
eration,— ^principles,  which  they  had  received  as  a  spirit- 
ual legacy  from  their  fathers  of  many  preceding  gener- 
ations. Long  since  have  the  pious  founders  of  this 
church  gone  to  their  heavenly  rest, — while  through  the 
covenant  mercy  and  faithfulness  of  God,  the  church, 
which  they  loved,  has  continued  to  walk  in  the  faith 
and  order  in  which,  with  strong  confidence  in  Him  and 
many  prayers,  they  left  it  at  their  departure. 


26 


2.  The  faithfulness  of  God  has  been  illustrated  in  the 
history  of  this  church,  in  the  enjoyment  of  an  evangeli- 
cal ministry  which,  from  time  to  time,  He  has  bestowed 
upon  it. 

Many  churches  in  the  christian  world,  and  some  in 
our  beloved  New  England  have  declined  from  the 
simplicity  and  truth  of  the  gospel  by  reason  of  the 
defective  or  erroneous  teaching  of  those,  who  were 
placed  over  them  in  the  ministry.  But  so  great  has 
been  the  lovins;  kindness  and  faithfulness  of  God  to  this 
church  from  the  beginning,  that  it  has  been  saved  from 
such  unhappy  influences. 

The  wdiole  number  of  ministers,  settled  over  this 
church  is  eight ;  six  of  whom  are  deceased. 

The  first  of  these  was  the  Eev.  Samuel  Fuller,  who 
was  a  son  of  Dr.  Samuel  Fuller,  one  of  the  first  company 
who  landed  upon  the  Plymouth  Eock,  A.  D.,  1620.  The 
distinguished  talents,  and  eminent  piety  of  the  father 
proved  a  rich  blessing  to  the  son.  For  several  years 
the  latter  was  a  deacon  in  the  church  at  Plymouth ;  and 
imder  the  advantages  which  he  enjoyed  in  that  place, 
he  made  such  progress  in  general  knowledge,  and  par- 
ticularly in  Christian  Theology,  that  he  was  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel  in  the  colony,  and  labored  in  that 
employment  in  this  town  about  sixteen  years  previously 
to  his  ordination,  which,  as  I  have  already  stated,  took 
place  immediately  after  the  organization  of  the  church. 

It  is  impracticable  now  to  come  at  much  knowledge  of 
the  peculiar  character  of  his  preachpg.  That  he  was 
eminently  pious,  and  devoted  to  the  ministerial  work, — 
that  he  preached  the  plain  great  truths  of  the  gospel, 
and  faithfully  <lid  ilio  work  of  an  Evnngelist,  is  evident 
from  the  success  which  tiltonded  his  miuistrv,  from  thr 


27 

highly  evangelical  character  of  the  confession  of  faith 
and    covenant,   originally   adopted   by   the   church,  of 
which  he  was  undoubtedly  the  author,  and  from  the 
afiectionate  rememberance,  with  which  his   name  has 
ever  been  cherished  by  all  succeeding  generations. 

But  his  ministry,  after  his  ordination,  was  very  brief, 
lasting  for  only  seven  months  and  twenty-one  days.  He 
died  in  the  seventy-first  year  of  his  age,  and  was  interred 
in  the  first  burying-place,  commonly  called  the  Hill. 

The  second  pastor  of  this  church  was  Rev.  Thomas 
Palmer,  a  man  of  memory  unblessed  in  his  connection 
with  the  ministerial  office  here.  Whence  he  came  is  not 
known.  I  cannot  find  that  he  had  ever  received  a  public 
education.  Nor,  in  consequence  of  the  loss  of  all  the 
records  during  his  ministry,  does  it  appear  when  he  was 
ordained.  That  the  character  of  his  preaching  was  de- 
cidedly evangelical,  we  have  strong  reason  to  conclude 
from  the  circumstance  of  his  being  settled  over  a  church, 
recently  organized  on  such  strictly  evangelical  principles, 
and  having  long  enjoyed  the  spiritual  ministrations  of 
such  a  man  as  the  lamented  Mr.  Fuller. 

But  the  painful  discovery  was  made,  (how  soon  after 
his  settlement  it  does  not  appear,)  that  his  moral  charac- 
ter was  defective, — a  discovery,  which,  as  we  might  well 
suppose,  produced  a  strong  sensation  of  dissatisfaction 
and  alienation  in  the  church.  In  accordance,  therefore, 
with  the  advice  of  a  Council  of  twelve  churches,  and 
also  of  the  anniversary  convention  of  ministers  in  Bos- 
ton, he  was,  by  the  Church  here,  on  June  30,  1708, 
deposed  from  the  ministry,  and  excluded  from  their  com- 
mimion  at  the  sacramental  table.  There  are  some  con- 
soling reflections,  however,  which  we  are  happy  to  make 
on  his  subsequent  history.      He  remained  in  the  place. 


28 


and  so  far  retrieved  his  character,  as  to  be  employed  for 
many  years  as  a  practising  physician  among  the  people  ; 
and,  near  the  close  of  his  life,  was  restored  to  the  com- 
munion of  the  church.  He  was  interred  in  the  burying 
ground  on  the  Green. 

But  we  are  now  coming  to  a  better  and  brig;hter 
period  in  the  history  of  the  christian  ministry  in  this 
place. 

The  third  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Peter  Thaciier,  whose 
praise  was  in  his  own  day,  and  long  will  be,  in  the 
churches  of  this  community.  He  was  son  of  Eev. 
Peter  Thacher  of  Milton,  and  grandson  of  Eev.  Thomas 
Thacher  of  Weymouth,  who  was  subsequently  first  min- 
ister of  the  Old  South  Church,  Boston.  Mr.  Thacher, 
the  pastor  of  this  church,  was  graduated  at  Harvard 
College  in  1706,  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  In  about  a 
year  from  that  time,  he  began  to  preach  to  this  church 
and  peojDle,  in  circumstances  of  great  difficulty,  inas- 
much as  Mr.  Palmer  continued,  for  some  time,  to  preach 
in  a  private  house  to  a  portion  of  the  people,  who  adher- 
ed to  him,  notwithstanding  the  course  which  had  been 
pursued  with  him  by  the  church.^  But  Mr.  Thacher  came 
to  this  place  in  the  spirit  of  his  master.  His  aim  was  to 
preach  the  gospel,  and  so  highly  did  he  commend  himself 
in  that  character  that  on  June  30tli  1708,  he  w^as  chosen 
by  the  church  as  their  pastor,  before  he  w^as  twenty 
years  old.  His  ordination,  however,  did  not  take  place 
till  Nov.  2,  1709. 

Mr  Thacher  brought  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  here 
a  mind  of  strong  native  powers  and  highly  cultivated 
by  f!ie  uncommon  advantages  he  enjoyed  under  the 
instruction  of  his  reverend  father,  whose  library  is  said  to 

*Rev.  Mr.  Barker's  Century  Sermon. 


I 


29 


have  been  richly  furnished  with  the  works  of  the  learned 
and  pious  puritan  authors,  and  whose  house  was  a  great  re- 
sort of  the  most  eminent  ministers  of  the  day.  But,  beside 
a  mind  thus  well  disciplined  for  his  work,  he  had  a  heart 
to  love  it.  His  soul  was  deeply  imbued  with  the  spirit 
the  gospel ;  and  from  inclination,  as  well  as  from  a  sense 
of  duty,  he  gave  himself  wholly  to  his  work ;  and  truly 
may  it  be  said  of  him,  that  "  his  profiting  appeared  to 
all."  His  knowledge  of  the  scriptures  was  deep  ;  his 
manner  of  presenting  divine  truth  to  the  minds  of  his  peo- 
ple was  clear,  persuasive,  and  convincing ;  his  addresses 
at  the  throne  of  grace  were  humble,  solemn  and  ardent ; 
his  life  was  circumspect,  and  eminently  christian.  As  we 
might  expect,  God  blessed  the  labors  of  such  a  man. 
Under  his  ministry  the  church  constantly  increased  for 
many  years  in  numbers  and  in  strength.  But  toward 
the  close  of  his  life  he  became  much  discouraged  by 
what  he  considered  a  growing  indifference  to  spiritual 
things  in  the  church  and  among  the  people.  He  serious- 
ly contemplated  preaching  a  farewell  sermon,  and  leaving 
his  charge  ;  and  declared  to  his  biographer  that  he 
should  have  done  it,  had  he  not  been  embarrassed  in 
finding  a  suitable  text. 

But  this  season  of  discouragement  was  not  long  ;  for 
in  1741  he  saw  among  the  j)eople  of  his  own  charge  the 
beginning  of  that  reviving  work  of  God  which  continued 
for  more  than  two  years.  The  out-pouring  of  the  spirit 
here  was  sudden,  powerful,  extensive,  and  long-contin- 
ued. With  all  the  powers  of  his  body,  mind  and  heart, 
he  engaged,  at  home  and  abroad,  in  the  work  of  that 
memorable  revival  of  religion.  He  labored  in  gather- 
ing in  its  glorious  fruits,  till  his  strength  was  finally 
exhausted.     His  death  occurred  April  22,  1744,  in  the 


30 


fifty-sixth  year  of  his  age,  in  the  thirty-fifth  of  his  minis- 
try, and  just  before  the  expiration  of  the  first  half 
century  of  tlie  church's  existence.  He  was  interred  in 
his  own  tomb,  then  and  till  recently  the  only  one  in  the 
burying  ground  near  this  house.  How  great  a  loss  was 
such  a  man  to  the  people  of  his  charge,  and  how  deeply 
lamented  by  them  was  his  death,  I  need  not,  my  hearers 
attempt  to  tell  you.  A  very  full  account  of  this  emi- 
nent minister  of  Christ  by  his  brother-in-law,  the  late 
Rev.  Thomas  Prince  of  Boston,  was  given  in  the 
pamphlet  published  and  circulated  among  you  two  years 
ago.  But  less  than  I  have  now  said  of  him  could  not 
be  omitted,  while  I  was  endeavoring  to  show  you,  that 
God  had  graciously  bestowed  on  this  church  a  truly  evan- 
gelical ministry.  And  now,  my  hearers,  bear  in  mind, 
that  the  gift  of  such  a  minister  was  continued  evidence 
of  the  faithfulness  of  God. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Thacher  was  succeeded  by  some  se- 
vere trials  for  the  church.  A  revival  of  religion  like 
that,  which  was  experienced  in  the  three  last  years  of 
his  life,  could  hardly  be  expected  to  take  place  without 
exciting  some  feelings  of  hostility  on  the  part  of  those, 
who  did  not  sympathise  with  its  character  and  spirit, 
and  who  failed  to  come  under  its  sanctifying  and  saving 
influences. 

Such  persons,  therefore,  a  few  of  whom  w^ere  mem- 
bers of  the  church,  became  active  in  inducing  the  Par- 
ish to  take  an  unprecedented  course  in  the  choice  and 
settlement  of  another  minister.  This  innovation  the 
church  resisted,  and  as  the  event  showed  successfully^ 
But  the  occurrence  was  a  disastrous  one  for  the  time. 
It  occasioned  a  division  in  the  Parish,  a  majority  of 
w^hom,  with  a  small  minority  of  the   church,  kept  the 


31 


control  of  the  Meeting  House,  and  procured  preaching 
for  themselves.  In  the  meantime  the  church  with  the 
other  part  of  the  people,  proceeded  in  the  common 
course  for  the  settlement  of  the  christian  ministry. 
Leaving,  in  a  peaceable  manner,  the  House  where  they 
had  long  assembled,  they  withdrew  and  worshipped 
for  a  time  in  a  private  dwelling. 

The  Rev.  Sylvanus  Conant,  of  Bridgew^ater,  became 
the  fourth  Pastor  of  the  church,  and  was  ordained  over 
it  on  March  28,  1745,  less  than  one  year  after  Mr. 
Thacher's  death.  Mr.  Conant  was  graduated  at  Harvard 
College,  in  1740.  He  was  a  man  of  good  talents,  of 
deep  piety,  and  of  great  circumspection  in  his  personal 
and  official  deportment.  Being  of  an  uncommonly 
amiable  temper  of  mind,  he  was  well  calculated  to  be  a 
peace-maker  in  the  midst  of  a  people,  who  had  unhap- 
pily fallen  into  much  religious  strife  as  well  as  actual 
division.  As  a  preacher,  Mr.  Conant  was  plain,  evan^ 
gelical  and  forcible.  Like  his  predecessor,  his  great  aim 
was  to  do  good.  He  well  understood  the  design  and 
the  spirit  of  the  gospel,  and  he  was  faithful  in  feeding 
the  sheep  and  the  lambs  of  his  Master's  flock  in  this 
place. 

As  a  proof  of  the  truth  of  these  statements,  it  may 
be  considered  that  the  church  under  his  care  proceeded 
to  erect  a  new  and  separate  Meeting  House,  leaving  the 
old  one  to  the  majority  of  the  Parish,  who,  with  the  small 
number  of  the  church  that  adhered  to  them,  in  a  few 
months  after  Mr.  Conant's  ordination,  procured  the  settle- 
ment over  themselves  of  Rev.  Thomas  Weld  ;  who,  in 
the  language  of  Mr.  Barker,  "  continued  with  them  for  a 
few  years,  his  party  gradually  leaving  him,  and  going  to 
the  other  meeting,  till,  at  length,  he   was  dismissed  ^ 


32 

and  then  tke  church  and  society  which  had  been  I'ent 
asunder  were  again  happily  united." 

A  very  clear  statement  and  able  defence  of  the  course 
pursued  by  the  church  at  this  critical  period  of  their 
history,  was  given  in  a  printed  pamphlet  in  1746,  by 
\-  I   Rev.  John  Cotton,  pastor  of  the  church  in  Halifax. 

Mr.  Conant's  ministerial  course  was  brought  to  a  sud- 
den close  by  the  pestilence  of  the  small  pox,  of  which  he 
died,  Dec.  8th,  1777,  in  the  fifty-eighth  year  of  his  age, 
and  the  thirty-third  of  his  ministry.  "  He  was  called 
from  his  labors,"  Mr.  Barker  remarks.  "  in  the  midst  of 
his  usefulness,  and  in  the  full  possession  of  the  love  and 
esteem  of  his  large  flock."  He  was  interred  in  the 
Eastern  part  of  the  parish,  in  a  separate  burying  place, 
with  several  other  persons,  who  died  at  the  same  time 
and  of  the  same  disease.  Mr.  Conant's  memory  has 
been  cherished  with  deep  interest  by  the  two  genera- 
tions  of  this  people,  who  have  followed  him.  It  is  one 
of  the  pleasant  things  of  my  own  ministry,  occasionally 
to  hear  the  few  aged  ones,  who  personally  knew  him, 
and  who  are  still  surviving  here,  speak  of  the  excellen- 
cies of  his  character.  I  would  only  add  that  his  whole 
history,  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  is  one  more  evi- 
dence of  the  faithfulness  of  God  to  this  church. 

The  Fifth  Pastor  of  the  church  was  Rev.  Joseph  Bar- 
ker of  Branford,  Conn.  He  was  graduated  at  Yale 
College  in  1771,  and  was  ordained  to  the  pastoral  oflice 
here  Dec.  5,  1781.  Four  years  had  passed  away  from 
the  death  of  Mr.  Conant,  while  the  church  and  the  peo- 
ple were  without  the  stated  ministry  of  any  one  man. 
These  were  years  of  great  trial  to  the  church  of  Christ 
in  this  land,  occurring  as  they  did  in  the  midst  of  the 
Revolutionary   War.      Mr.    Barker,   of  course,  entered 


33 


upon  his  labors  here  at  a  very  difficult  period.  He  was  a 
man  of  acknowledged  abilities,  sound  in  the  faith,  clear, 
forcible,  and  fearless  in  preaching  the  great  doctrines  of 
the  gospel.  He  was  abundant  in  labors ;  and  his  ministry 
was  attended  with  a  good  degree  of  success,  especially  in 
the  first  part  of  it,  when  his  mind  and  time  were  less 
devoted  to  the  public  interests  of  the  country  than  was  the 
case  in  subsequent  years.  His  death  occurred  on  July 
25th,  1815,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three,  and  when  he  was 
in  the  thirty-fourth  year  of  his  ministry.  He  was  inter- 
red in  the  burying  ground  at  this  place.  Thus,  in  the 
fifth  pastor,  the  faithfulness  of  God  secured  to  the  church 
an  evangelical  ministry. 

The  Rev.  Emerson  Paine,  still  living,  was  the  Sixth 
Pastor  of  the  church.  He  was  graduated  at  Brown  Uni- 
versity in  1813.  His  ordination  here  took  place  Feb. 
14,  1816.  Mr.  Paine  was  justly  considered  a  man  of 
distinguished  talents  and  piety.  His  preaching  was  of 
the  same  character  as  that  of  his  predecessor.  It  was 
highly  evangelical,  and  such  as  strongly  commended  it- 
self to  the  church.  He  was  settled  here  in  peculiarly 
trying  circumstances,  and  with  reluctance  on  his 
own  part.  After  repeated  requests  to  the  church  to 
unite  with  him  in  calling  a  council  for  his  dismission, 
they  finally  yielded,  and  it  took  place  on  the  4th  of 
June  1822,  and  in  the  seventh  year  of  his  ministry. 

The  Rev.  William  Eaton  became  the  Seventh  Pastor 
of  the  church  March  10,  1824.  He  was  graduated  at 
Williams  College  in  1810,  and  settled  in  the  ministry  in 
Fitchburg,  previously  to  his  installation  here.  His 
ministry,  which  lasted  ton  j^ears,  maintained  the  same 
evangelical  character  with  that  of  his  several  predeces- 
sors. At  his  own  request  he  was  dismissed,  April  1, 
6 


34 


1834.  He  was  afterwards  settled,  successively,  in  Char- 
lotte, Vermont,  and  Hardwick  in  this  State.  His  health 
failing  him  at  the  latter  place,  he  sought  a  dismission 
from  his  charge,  gave  up  the  ministerial  work,  and  died 
soon  afterwards  at  West  Brookfield,  in  1840,  aged  fifty- 
six. 

It  is  now  only  to  be  added  that  the  present  Pastor, 
who  is  the  Eighth,  was  installed  here  Oct.  28, 1835,  after 
a  previous  settlement  of  twenty  years  over  the  First 
Church  and  Parish  in  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  Of  the  char- 
acter of  his  own  ministry,  he  can  of  course,  say  nothing. 
But  he  trusts  that  from  the  view  he  has  given  of  the 
character  and  labors  of  his  predecessors,  he  has  made  it 
appear,  that  in  them,  God  gave  to  this  church  a  truly 
evangelical  ministry  in  token  of  his  faithfulness  to  the 
covenant,  which  he  entered  into  with  its  founders. 

3.  The  third  proof  of  the  same  truth,  is  found  in  the 
consideration  that  God  has  in  his  Providence^  from  time 
to  time,  given  to  the  church,  in  connection  with  the 
people,  suitable  places  for  his  worship,  for  the  preach- 
ing of  the  gospel,  and  for  the  administration  of  its  ordin- 
ances. 

The  First  Meeting  House  was  situated  near  the 
dwelling  of  the  late  Dr.  Sturtevant.  It  was  prob- 
ably standing  there  at  the  organization  of  the  church, 
and  was  occupied  during  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Fuller, 
and  remained  till  the  year  1700. 

The  Second  House  was  erected  on  what  is  now  called 
the  Green,  and  near  the  location  of  the  present  school 
house.  That  house  was  occupied  during  the  whole  of  the 
ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Thacher,  and  was  the  scene  of  the 
powerful  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  on  tlie  minds  of  tliis 
people  in  Ihe  years  1741,  '42  and  '43. 


35 


The  Third  House  was  built  on  a  site  a  few  'rods 
north-east  of  that  where  we  now  worship  ;  and  is  recollec- 
ted by  many  of  the  present  generation.  It  was  in  that 
house,  that  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Conant,  Barker  and  Paine 
preached  during  the  whole  of  their  respective  minis- 
tries. 

Our  present  House  of  worship  was  erected  in  the  year 
1829,  and  is  by  far,  the  largest,  most  costly,  and  most 
convenient  of  the  whole  number. 

Let  no  one  say  that  Houses,  well  adapted  to  the  public 
Avorship  of  God  and  to  the  administration  of  the  ordin- 
ances of  the  gospel,  are  not  proof  of  the  divine  favor. 
We  might  well  ask  what  was  the  first  temple  at  Jerusa- 
lem, built  under  the  direction  of  Jehovah,  with  such 
great  preparation,  and  at  such  vast  cost,  during  the 
reigns  of  David  and  Solomon  ?  True,  there  is  an  impor- 
tant sense,  in  which  "  The  Most  High  dwelleth  not  in 
temples  made  with  hands."  He  is  a  spirit.  His  habi- 
tation is  in  ^'the  heavens."  He  is  the  omnipresent 
Jehovah,  not  confined  to  space.  But  he  condescends  to 
the  children  of  men  ;  and,  in  an  important  sense  also,  he 
does  dwell  in  these  Houses,  which  he  sufiers  us  to  build 
for  his  worship.  And  of  every  such  place,  it  may  be 
said  now,  as  it  was  by  the  prophet  Habakkuk, "  The  Lord 
is  in  His  holy  temple." 

The  thought  of  the  divine  presence  in  our  houses  of  wor- 
ship ought  to  make  every  one  of  them  a  solemn  place  ; 
and  the  goodness  and  faithfulness  of  God  to  this  church 
and  people  are  to  be  acknowledged  in  all  those  earthly 
temples,  which  they  in  their  different  generations,  have 
been  permitted  to  erect  for  the  honor  of  his  name. 

4.  But  I  come  in  the  fourth  place  to  call  your  atten- 
tion, my  hearers,  to  a  still  more  interesting  consideration 


36 


in  proof  of  the  faithfulness  of  God  to  this  church.  He 
has  attended  the  various  means  of  salvation,  which  I 
have  enumerated,  with  the  gracious  operations  of  his 
Spirit,  on  the  hearts  of  the  church  and  people  during 
these  one  hundred  and  fifty  years. 

The  merciful  design  of  the  gospel  is  the  conversion 
and  salvation  of  sinners;  and  the  object  of  the  outward 
institution  of  the  christian  church  is  to  receive  convert- 
ed sinners  into  a  covenant  relation  to  God  and  one 
another,  for  their  sanctification  and  growth  in  grace ;  so 
that  the  influence  of  the  church,  and  especially  the  ordi- 
nance of  the  ministry,  may  bring  the  power  of  the  gos- 
pel to  bear  on  the  minds  and  hearts  of  the  unconverted 
part  of  the  world. 

But  the  whole  power  of  the  gospel,  through  the  min- 
istry, which  God  has  connected  with  the  church  for  such 
infinitely  important  ends,  is  to  be  traced  to  the  effica- 
cious workings  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

Here  we  see  that  all  church  organization,  all  creeds, 
covenants,  and  ordinances,  all  houses  of  worship,  all 
preaching  of  the  word,  are  nothing  and  accomplish  noth- 
ing in  sanctifying  and  saving  souls,  without  the  accom- 
panying energies  of  God's  gracious  Spirit;  so  that,  after 
all,  the  bestowment  of  this  divine  influence  is  the  great- 
est gift  of  God  to  man,  and  the  crowning  blessing  of 
the  gospel  of  his  grace  to  a  dying  world. 

We  are  prepared  then,  my  brethren,  to  see  how  great 
has  been  the  loving  kindness  and  faithfulness  of  God  to 
this  church  in  bestowing  such  measures  of  divine 
influence  upon  their  own  minds,  and  upon  the  minds  of 
this  people  for  these  many  generations. 

The  ministry  of  Mr.  Fuller,  after  his  ordination,  was 
very  short;  and  on  account  of  the  lo^s  of  the  records 


37 


which  has  been  mentioned,  little  can  be  known  how 
much  it  was  instrumental  of  accomplishing. 

The  same  may  be  said  of  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Palmer, 
which  lasted  about  ten  years.  Little,  indeed,  could  be 
hoped  from  the  preaching  of  even  evangelical  truth, 
where  the  life  of  the  preacher  was  a  contradiction  to  his 
doctrine.  Still,  God  as  a  sovereign,  sometimes  uses  very 
unworthy  instruments  to  accomplish  his  holy  purposes ; 
and,  as  the  records  now  show  that  some  were  members 
of  the  church  at  the  time  when  Mr.  Palmer's  ministry 
closed  and  Mr.  Thacher's  began  in  1709,  who  were  not 
among  the  original  founders,  we  must  conclude,  that 
there  were  some  additions  to  the  church  during  that 
dark,  short  period  of  its  history ;  but  how  many,  and 
when  made,  and  the  names  of  them  all,  can  probably 
never  be  known. 

After  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Thacher,  the  Holy  Spirit 
seemed  to  return,  and  his  gracious  influences  were  given 
to  attend  the  ministry  of  that  faithful  preacher  and 
godly  pastor  with  very  encouraging,  though  with  differ- 
ent degrees  of  success  at  different  times,  till  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Great  Kevival,  which  was  in  1741 ;  a 
period  long  to  be  remembered  in  the  christian  history  of 
this  country,  Scotland,  and  some  other  parts  of  Protest- 
ant Europe.  The  number  admitted  to  the  church  during 
Mr.  Thacher's  ministry  was  ahoutfoitr  hundred  and  thirty  ; 
of  whom  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  were  received  in  the 
year  1742,  as  the  principal  fruits  of  the  revival. 

Is  it  not  always  safe  for  us  to  estimate  the  fiithfulness 
of  a  minister,  or  any  other  servant  of  God,  by  the  appar- 
ent success  which  attends  his  labors,  at  any  given  time  : 
and  equally  erroneous  is  it  for  us  to  calculate  the 
amount  of  good,  of  which  any  man  is  the  instrument,  by 


38 


considering  the  results  of  his  influence  as  they  appear 
during  even  his  whole  life ;  for  the  works  of  every  one 
who  has  died  in  the  Lord,  do  follow  him ;  and  it  is 
sometimes  the  sovereign  appointment  of  God,  that  his 
servants  should  be  instrumental  in  preventing  sin  rather 
than  in  promoting  holiness.  These  remarks  apply  with 
much  force  to  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Conant,  who  succeeded 
Mr.  Thacher.  These  two  men  died  at  nearly  the  same 
age,  and  after  a  ministry  of  nearly  the  same  length. 
They  pi  cached  the  same  great  christian  doctrines  and 
duties ;  they  appeared  to  be  influenced  by  the  same 
spirit ;  they  were  alike  laborious  in  their  work ;  they 
seemed  to  aim  equally  at  the  glory  of  their  divine  mas- 
ter. But  very  different  were  the  apparent  results  of 
the  ministry  of  the  latter  from  those  of  the  former.  Mr. 
Thacher  was  permited  to  see  during  his  ministry  the 
addition  of  about  four  hundred  and  thirty  to  the 
church ;  while  Mr.  Conant  was  allowed  to  see  that  of 
about  seventy  only. 

It  is  indeed  true  that  God  is  a  sovereign,  and  that  he 
has  mercy  where  he  will  have  mercy ;  yet  there  is  such  a 
general  uniformity  in  his  manner  of  accompanying  the 
right  use  of  the  means  of  salvation  with  the  efficacious 
influence  of  his  grace,  that  wherever  the  results  in  one 
case  differ  materially  from  what  they  are  in  another,  we 
may  often  discover  some  of  the  reasons  of  the  difference. 
And  so  it  is,  I  apprehend,  in  the  cases  before  us.  There 
are  two  important  reasons,  why  the  ministry  of  Mr. 
Conant  should  be  instrumental  of  accomplishing  less 
immediate  or  apparent  good  than  that  of  Mr.  Thacher. 
One  is,  that  the  religious  susceptibilities  of  the  people 
were  greatly  exhausted  when  his  labors  began.  The 
out-pouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit  had  been  very  copious. 


39 


The  revival  had  taken  deep  hold  of  the  minds  of  chris- 
tians and  taxed  their  spirtual  energies  to  an  uncommon 
degree.  Great  numbers  of  sinners,  old  and  young, 
had  been  converted.  A  sealing  influence  was  set  in 
that  revival  upon  the  labors  and  prayers  and  covenant 
faithfulness  of  the  minister  and  the  church  for  a  long 
antecedent  period.  Before  the  revival  they  had  been 
sowing  in  tears ;  when  it  came,  for  three  years  they 
reaped  in  joy.  When  Mr.  Conant  came  among  the  peo- 
ple, he  found  and  had  to  administer  upon  just  such  a 
state  of  things  as  we  have  often  seen  exist  in  New  England, 
after  a  powerful  revival  of  religion.  The  human  mind 
is  so  constituted  that  intense  religious  excitement  ex- 
hausts its  powers  of  feeling  and  acting.  It  is  so  with 
individuals,  it  is  so  with  churches  and  with  larger  commu- 
nities. The  Revival  of  a  century  ago  was  uncommon- 
ly powerful,  and  it  took  the  minds  of  those,  who  came 
under  its  greatest  influence,  as  was  the  case  here,  many 
years  to  come  back  to  the  same  susceptibiHty  which 
existed  at  its  commencement. 

But  there  was  another  cause  which  ojDerated  power- 
fully in  preventing  the  success  of  Mr.  Conant's  ministry. 
A  few  years  after  his  settlement  the  public  mind  began 
to  be  uncommonly  occupied  with  political  subjects.  The 
difiiculties  which  the  colonies  had  with  the  mother 
country,  were  of  a  serious  character.  The  excitement 
soon  became  intense,  and  it  continued  and  increased  till 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolutionary  "War,  in  the  third 
year  of  which  Mr.  Conant  died.  It  is  easy  to  see  that 
political  subjects  must  have  greatly  absorbed  other 
interests.  The  public  mind  was  turned  away  from  the 
subject  of  religion,  and  even  christians  and  chris- 
tian churches  suftered  greatly  in  tlieu'  sphitual  interests. 


40 


In  the  two  considerations  now  mentioned,  we  may  see 
some  obvious  reasons,  why  Mr.  Conant's  ministry  should 
not  have  yielded  as  much  apparent  fruit  as  that  of  other 
men,  who  preached  the  same  truths,  and  labored  in  the 
same  spirit  of  evangelical  fidelity.  Indeed,  it  would 
have  been  a  great  achievement  of  his  ministry  if  it  had 
barely  saved  the  church  from  going  over  to  moral  and 
religious  errors,  in  such  a  day  of  trial  and  darkness  as 
he  lived  in.  But  it  accomplished  more  than  this.  It 
kept  the  church  and  people  on  the  Lord's  side ;  and  his 
labors  were  such  as  his  successor  might  well  rejoice  to 
enter  into. 

Mr.  Barker  commenced  his  ministry  a  little  before  the 
close  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  When  that  event  took 
place,  the  public  mind  soon  sought  and  found  the  rest 
it  had  been  many  years  deprived  of.  True,  the  revolu- 
tionary times  had  had  the  effect  of  corrupting  the  pub- 
lic morals,  as  well  as  the  public  religious  sentiment.  But 
when  peace  came,  the  people  had  time  to  rest,  time 
to  think.  It  became  more  practicable  to  gain  their 
attention  to  religious  truth.  Ministers  found  more  encour- 
agement in  preaching  the  gospel.  Accordingly,  in  the 
first  thirteen  years  of  Mr.  Barker's  ministry,  there  were 
as  many  admitted  to  the  church  as  in  all  the  thirty-two 
of  that  of  Mr  Conant.  It  was  different,  however,  in  the 
years  which  followed,  and  which  brought  the  history  of 
the  church  down  to  1806 :  during  those  twelve  years 
there  was  an  addition  to  it  of  only  tliirttj4hree. 

But  God  was  about  to  remember  mercy  again  for 
this  ancient  church,  and  to  show  that  he  had  not  forgot- 
ten his  faithfulness  to  its  many  generations.  In  the 
years  1 807  and  '8,  a  new  and  powerful  revival  was  enjo)'ed. 
As   the  fruits   of    it,    there    were    gathered    into    the 


41 


church  in  those  two  years,  and  in  1809  the  number  of 
ninety -five.  The  whole  number  admitted  to  the  church 
during  Mr.  Barker's  ministry  yva^Uvo  hundred  and  forty-four. 

The  number  admitted  during  the  short  ministry  of 
Mr.  Paine,  which  was  a  Httle  more  than  six  years,  was 
tivelve. 

In  1823,  while  there  was  no  settled  minister,  another 
precious  out-pouring  of  the  Spirit  was  granted ;  and 
seventy-tivo  were  added  to  the  church  in  that  year. 

Mr.  Eaton's  ministry  commenced  in  1824,  and  ended 
in  1834  ;  during  which  time  there  were  some  seasons  of 
special  revival.  In  the  three  years  of  1829,  '30,  and  '31, 
forty-one  persons  were  added  to, the  church;  and  the 
whole  number  admitted  during  his  ministry  was  sixty- 
one. 

Some  special  effusions  of  the  Holy  Spirit  were  enjoy, 
ed  by  us  here  in  1840  and  '41 ;  and  there  were  added 
to  the  church  in  those  two  years,  the  number  oi fifty. 
The  whole  number  added  duringt  he  present  ministry, — 
that  is,  from  1835  to  1845, — is  one  hundred  and  seven,  nine 
of  whom  were  added  the  past  year. 

In  consequence  of  the  loss  of  the  early  records  of  the 
church,  it  is  impossible  to  state  with  accuracy  the  whole 
number  of  admissions.  The  names  of  about  ten  hun- 
dred and  fifty,  however,  have  been  ascertained,  which 
would  make  the  averasre  of  annual  admission  seven 
members  for  the  whole  period.  Such,  my  hearers,  are 
the  general  results  experienced  from  the  organization  of 
this  church  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago,  and  from  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel  here  during  that  period.  More 
than  one  thousand  persons  have,  by  these  means  of  grace, 
been  brought  to  make  a  public  profession  of  the  name  of 
Christ,  and  to  take  the  vows  of  God  upon  them.  How 
6 


42 


many  ot  them  will,  in  the  great  day  appear  to  have  been 
real  converts,  the  books  then  to  be  opened  will  show. 
And  those  books  will  show  also,  how  many  other  persons, 
of  the  different  generations  here,  during  this  century 
and  a  half,  who,  although  they  never  confessed  Christ 
before  men,  have  actually  accepted  the  salvation  offered 
them  by  his  ministers.  Nor  can  I  fail  here  to  add  that 
other  reflection,  still  more  affecting, — which  is,  that  those 
books  will  show  how  many  of  these  generations,  who 
had  the  offer  of  eternal  life  thus  made  to  them,  rejected 
it  and  perished ! 

If  it  should  be  asked  where  such  of  these  church 
members,  as  have  departed  this  life,  actually  closed  their 
mortal  course, — the  answer  would  be  that  most  of  them 
lived  and  died  in  this  place.  Their  bodies  have  returned 
to  the  dust,  and  are  mouldering  in  the  several  burying 
grounds  of  the  parish.  .  But  some  of  them  were  dismiss- 
ed at  different  times  to  aid  in  forming  the  churches  in 
the  west  and  north  precincts  of  the  town,  and  in  Halifax. 
Others  also  have  been  dismissed  to  join  other  churcheg 
in  this  and  other  States ;  and  others  again  have  died  in 
near  or  distant  places,  while  they  retained  their  mem- 
bership here.  How  many  of  the  whole  number  are  now 
living  it  is  impossible  to  say.  Tivo  hundred  and  flfty- 
sevcn  of  them  are  still  actual  members  of  this  church. 
But  you  see  what  a  great  proportion  have  passed  away 
from  all  mortal  scenes,  and  are  "  fixed  in  an  eternal 
state." 

If  time  did  not  fail  me,  and  if  there  were  not,  as  I 
have  already  mentioned,  in  a  course  of  preparation,  such 
a  historical  notice  as  will  give  you  the  fullest  details 
concerning  the  church,  its  ministers,  its  deacons,  its 
houses  of  worship,  and  other   things  of  like    interest. 


43 


together  with  a  complete  list  of  its  members,  I  should  love 
to  dwell  on  such  particulars, — as  I  am  persuaded  they 
will  go  still  further  to  illustrate  the  very  precious  truth, 
which  it  has  been  my  object  this  day  to  present  to 
your  minds;  which  is  The  faithfulness  of  God  to  this  church 
during  the  century  and  half,  which  is  noiv  just  expiring.  But 
I  have  already  trespassed  much  on  your  patience,  and 
must  hasten  to  a  close  with  such  reflections  as  the  sub- 
ject and  occassion  obviously  suggest.  Let  me,  however, 
here  remark;  that  in  the  statements  already  made, 
especially  as  to  dates  and  numbers,  I  have  endeavored 
to  be  exact ;  but  I  cannot  hope  to  have  attained  to  per- 
fect accuracy  in  this  respect.  That  could  hardly  be 
expected  in  consulting  so  many  accounts,  especially  as 
they  are  sometimes  not  a  little  contradictory. 

REFLECTIONS. 

1.  Our  first  reflection  is  on  the  offering  of  gratitude,  which 
is  due  from  us  this  day  to  God  for  his  condescending, 
patient  and  faithful  care  of  our  beloved  church. 

One  hundred  and  fifty  years  have  now  passed  away 
since  el&ven  men  and  nine  loomen,  having  hope  in  the  Lord 
Jesus,  and  dwelling  in  this  town,  stood  up  near  this  spot, 
to  engage  in  all  those  covenant  transactions,  by  which 
was  laid  the  foundation  of  one  of  the  many  thousand 
churches  of  Christ  on  earth.  And  oh,  my  christian 
friends,  what  a  Faithful  God  has  this  church  found  its 
great  covenant  Head  to  be !  How  condescending  to  it  in 
its  low  estate ;  how  patient  and  forgiving  toward  it  in  all 
its  backslidings ;  how  gracious  in  giving  it  such  meas- 
urers of  the  Holy  Spirit  ;   how  faithful   in  keeping  it  to 


44 


this  day,  built,  as  we  trust  it  is,  on  the  sure  foundation 
which  God  hath  laid  in  Zion, 

Let  us,  then,  joyfully  present  the  offering  of  thanks- 
giving and  praise  to  our  adorable  and  "  faithful  God, 
which  keepeth  covenant  and  mercy  with  them  that  love 
him  and  keep  his  commandments,  to  a  thousand  gener- 
ations." Such  a  grateful  tribute  is  his  just  due.  Let  it 
be  offered  by  every  heart 

2.  A  second  reflection  is  on  the  humiliation,  which 
becomes  us,  at  this  time,  in  view  of  any  departures  from 
the  purity  and  simplicity  of  our  fathers,  either  in  doctrine, 
spirit,  discipline,  order  or  manner  of  living,  of  which  we 
are  consciously  guilty. 

It  is  a  serious  thing,  my  brethren,  for  us  to  belong  to 
a  church,  whose  founders  and  members  of  former  gener- 
tions  were  such  as  we  know  ours  to  have  been.  The 
guilt  of  any  who  have  gone  before  us  is  not  chargeable 
upon  ourselves.  We  have  nothing  to  answer  for  except 
our  own  defects  and  our  own  sins.  But  is  there  not 
occaion  for  us  to  be  humble,  when  we  reflect  how  little 
we  love  "the  church  of  God  which  he  hath  purchased  with 
his  own  blood,"  and  how  few  sacrifices  we  make  for  its 
welfare?  For  the  orthodoxy  of  its  faith,  for  the  purity 
of  its  practice,  for  the  faithfulness  of  its  discipline,  we 
are  responsible.  Now  are  we  not  sensible,  that  we  have 
some  low  views  of  christian  truth,  order,  discipline^ 
and  practical  living  ?  Do  we  feel  that,  as  a  church,  and 
as  individuals,  all  is  right  with  us  ?  Are  we  what  our 
fathers  were  ?  Have  we  the  same  zeal  for  th^  honor  of  our 
Saviour,  which  they  manifested  ?  Are  we  as  conscien- 
tious in"  walking  in  the  commandments  and  ordinances 
of  the  Lord,  blameless,"  as  they  were  ?     Surely  we  se^ 


45 


great  occasion  to  be  humble,  when  we  address  ourselves 
with  such  questions  as  these.  How  strict  were  they  in 
observing  the  Sabbath  !  How  constant  in  their  attend^ 
ance  at  the  sanctuary !  How  faithful  in  maintaining 
family  prayer,  and  in  giving  daily  instruction  from  the 
Scriptures  to  their  households,  as  well  as  in  all  the  other 
duties  of  family  religion  !  What  a  high  privilege  did 
they  regard  it  to  consecrate  their  children  to  God,  in  the 
holy  ordinance  of  baptism,  therein  following  the  exam^ 
pie  of  believers  under  the  ancient  dispensation,  and 
thereby  binding  themselves  with  the  welcome  obliga-- 
tions  of  bringing  them  up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition 
of  the  Lord !  The  present  generation  may  imagine^  that 
they  have  advantageously  gotten  rid  of  what  they  call 
the  austerity  of  their  Pilgrim  Fathers,  and  that  they 
better  understand  the  philosophy  of  religion,  and  the 
liberality  as  well  as  the  liberty  of  the  gospel.  But  the 
signs  of  the  times  and  the  evils  in  the  churches,  give 
strong  intimation  that  their  imaginations  are  vain.  Let 
us,  who  belong  to  this  church,  search  our  hearts,  and 
try  our  ways  by  that  holy  standard  which  God  has  ap- 
pointed. Let  us  humble  ourselves  for  all  our  backslid-* 
ings  and  failures  of  duty,  penitently  confessing  them^ 
and  seeking  forgiveness  of  Him  "  whose  mercy  endureth 
forever." 

3.  We  ought  to  listen  to  the  call  there  is  for  more  zeal 
and  devotedness  to  the  service  of  our  covenant-keeping 
God.  When  we  first  avouched  the  Lord  to  be  our  God^ 
my  friends,  we  then  entered  into  engagements,  which 
can  never  be  broken  j  we  made  vows,  from  which  we 
can  never  go  back.  AVhen  we  finally  entered  this 
church,  whether  it  was  at  our  first  profession  of  the  name 
of  Christ,  or  by  the  removal  of  our  relation  from  some 


46 


Dtlifer  church,  we  solemnly  consecrated  ourselves  to  t 
service  of  Christ  here.  We  promised  the  brethren  and 
sisters  who  then  consituted  the  church,  that  we  would 
walk  with  them  in  the  truth  of  the  gospel,  that  we 
would  labor  with  them  in  the  spirit  of  Christ,  and  that 
if  it  should  be  God's  will,  we  would  die  with  them  in 
the  hope  of  a  future  eternal  union  in  his  kingdom.  We 
knew  what  this  church  was,  and  something  of  what  it 
had  been ;  certainly  we  knew  for  what  purposes  it  pro- 
fessed to  live.  Many  of  those  with  whom  we  thus  en^ 
tered  into  solemn  covenant,  are  removed  from  the 
church  below,  as  are  also  the  hundreds  of  those  who 
were  members  here  before  themselves.  But  the  church 
remains  ;  the  confession  of  faith  remains ;  the  covenant 
remains ;  the  glorious  objects  for  which  it  was  instituted 
remain;  our  own  vows  remain.  Yes,  my  Christian 
friends,  we  here  came  into  one  branch  of  the  family  of 
Christ ;  we  deliberately  chose  this  church  as  our  earthly 
home.  We  promised  to  serve  Him  who  has  made  it, 
hitherto,  such  a  pleasant  home  for  our  weary  souls ;  a 
home,  which  is  a  delightful  emblem  of  that  eternal  rest 
where  we  hope  to  see  his  glory  more,  and  love  and  serve 
and  enjoy  him  better.  I  come,  then,  my  beloved  breth^ 
ren  and  sisters  in  the  Lord^  to  call  upon  you  this  day, — as 
I  would  call  upon  myself, — while  the  church  is  now  enter- 
ing on  the  second  hundred  and  fifty  years  of  its  exist- 
ence, to  wake  up  to  the  claims  which  the  Saviour  has 
upon  your  love  and  your  service.  Those  pious  men  and 
women,  who  first  started  this  church  into  existence,  a 
century  and  a  half  ago,  then  gave  it  a  Christian  charac- 
ter, which  a  faithful  God  has  enabled  it  ever  since  to 
sustain ;  and  you,  my  friends,  are  now  going  to  start 
the  church  again  on  the  course  of  another  similar  period. 


47 


Oh,  where  will  you  be,  when  those  hundred  and  fifty 
years  are  ended  ?  Where  ?  In  glory,  I  hope  and  pray, 
with  all  the  members  of  the  church,  who  in  the  whole 
three  hundred  years,  shall  be  found  to  have  been  "  faith- 
ful." But,  be  faithful  yourselves,  or  that  glory  will  not 
be  yours.  The  church  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ !  Oh, 
can  there  be  a  higher,  nobler,  holier  object,  for  which  to 
live ;  or  any  better  service,  in  which  to  labor  and  even 
to  die  ? 

I  appeal  to  you,  all.  Ye  aged  ones,  your  day  is  fast 
declining.  The  shades  of  night  will  soon  be  upon  you. 
Yours  is  the  privilege  to  see  the  church  enter  upon 
another,  and  as  we  trust,  long  course  of  its  existence. 
Be  thankful  that  you  have  lived  to  see  this  day,  and  now 
whatever  you  would  do  to  help  in  giving  a  right  direc- 
tion to  its  Christian  energies,  let  me  entreat  you  to  do 
quickly.  If  you  have  any  more  time,  or  prayer,  or 
property,  or  labor,  or  influence,  to  give  to  the  church  of 
the  Lord  Jesus,  give  it  noiv  ;  for  your  day  of  giving  and 
of  servino;  will  soon  be  over. 

I  call  upon  the  members  of  the  church  in  middle  life. 
Your  danger,  my  friends,  is  that  you  will  be  like  one, 
whom  the  Saviour  rebuked  for  worldly-mindedness, 
"  careful  about  many  things."  Be  exhorted  to  "^eek 
first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his  righteousness,  and  all 
these  things  shall  be  added  unto  you."  Be  faithful  to 
your  covenant  vows  and  your  Saviour.  Love  and  serve 
Us  cJiurch,  and  he  will  let  your  names  appear  at  last,  writ- 
ten in  brig;ht  letters  in  the  Book  of  Life. 

My  dear  young  friends,  members  of  the   church,  I 

delight  to  turn  to  you.     Oh,  what  is  there,  that  I  may 

'  not  say  to  those  whom  I  so  tenderly  love  ?     What  word 

of  ministerial  exhortation  shall  I  keep  back  from  those, 


48 


whom  it  has  been  my  lot  more  particularly  to  be  instru- 
mental of  bringing  to  the  hope  of  the  gospel,  and  even 
into  the  bosom  of  the  church  of  Christ.  To  you  I 
would  affectionately  appeal.  Shall  I  not  have  your 
youthful  days,  your  youthful  prayers,  your  youthful  en- 
ergies, for  the  service  of  Him,  whose  I  am,  and  whom  I 
aim  to  serve  ?  Oh,  will  you  not  go  with  me  to  the  la- 
bors, and  toils,  and  sacrifices,  necessary  to  follow  a  self- 
denying  and  crucified  Saviour?  Is  there  any  mere 
earthly  pleasure  or  enjoyment  or  object,  which  you  will 
not  freely  give  uj),  if  necessary,  that  you  may  be  found 
among  the  holy,  devoted  disciples  of  Jesus?  Be  faith- 
ful, my  dear  young  friends,  to  that  sacred  name  which 
you  have  taken  upon  you.  Serve  this  church  of  Christ 
with  a  pure  mind,  and  with  a  holy  zeal ;  and  in  the 
great  day  he  will  say  of  you,  as  he  did  of  some  in  Sar- 
dis,  "  these  shall  walk  with  me  in  white,  for  they  are 
worthy."  Yes,  through  the  golden  streets  of  the  New 
Jerusalem,  even  you  shall  walk  with  that  Saviour,  being 
made  worthy  through  the  infinite  merit  of  his  death. 

Brethren  and  sisters  of  the  church,  of  every  age  and 
every  condition,  "  Suffer  the  word  of  exhortation."  So 
far  as  you  are  concerned,  let  the  church  begin  the  second 
era  of  a  century  and  half,  as  it  began  the  first,  with  an 
entire  consecration  of  all  there  is  in  its  members  to 
Christ.  Are  you  conscious  of  backslidings  ?  Then  look 
to  Him,  who  alone  can  heal  them.  Is  there  less  of 
prayer  in  your  closets  and  in  your  families  than  there 
should  be  ?  Then  return  to  those  neglected  duties. 
Resolve,  as  did  Joshua,  and  as  did  the  pious  founders  of 
this  church,  and  sa}^,  each  one  of  you,  "  as  for  me  and 
my  house,  we  will  serve  the  Lord."  Are  there  any  of 
you  who  feel  that  you  have  neglected  a  duty  you  owe  to 


49 


your  beloved  children,  in  consecrating  them,  as  well  as 
yourselves,  to  the  Lord  ?  Then  bring  them  forth  with- 
out delay,  and  let  the  seal  of  the  everlasting  covenant 
be  set  upon  them.  Let  them  be  baptized  in  the  name  of 
the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Let 
this  be  done,  on  your  part,  with  true  faith  in  God,  and 
then  you  will  have  his  promise  that  he  will  pour  his 
Spirit  upon  your  seed,  and  his  blessing  upon  your  off- 
spring. Do  your  consciences  tell  you  that  you  neglect 
the  public  and  social  means  of  grace  ?  Then  come  to 
the  house  of  the  Lord  on  his  Holy  Day,  and  be  present 
when  his  word  is  preached  and  his  ordinances  are  admin- 
istered. Attend  the  private  meetings  of  prayer  and 
religious  conference.  Speak  often  to  one  another,  as  did 
the  pious  Jews  in  the  time  of  Malachi,  and  the  Lord 
will  hearken  and  hear  it,  if  you  fear  Him  and  think  upon 
his  name  ;  and  he  will  pronounce  you  His,  in  the  day 
when  he  makes  up  his  jewels.  Do  you  feel  condemned 
for  not  walking  more  worthily  of  your  Christian  voca- 
tion ?  Then  think  of  him  "  who  was  holy,  harmless, 
imdefiled,  and  separate  from  sinners." 

You  know,  my  Christian  friends,  what  is  needed  to 
make  this  generation  among  whom  you  dwell,  a  truly 
Christian  people,  and  to  impart  to  their  character  a  piety, 
which  shall  send  its  influence  down  far  into  the  era 
which  we  are  now  commencing.  You  have  feeling 
enough  to  wish  for  the  divine  interposition ;  and  some- 
times you  exclaim,  "  Oh,  that  the  work  of  the  Lord  were 
revived ! "  I  have  therefore  but  one  more  question  to  ask 
you.  Do  you  not  know  it  is  written,  that  your  heavenly 
Father  is  more  willing  to  give  his  Holy  Spirit  to  them 
that  ask  him,  than  you  yourselves  are  to  give  good  gifts 
to  your  children  ?  As  you  value  your  own  hopes  of 
7 


50 


eternal  life,  and  your  growth  in  grace  ;  as  you  wish  to 
see  the  Saviour  honored,  in  the  conversion  and  salvation 
of  the  generation  to  which  you  belong ;  as  you  desire  to 
be  instrumental  of  accomplishing  something  that  shall 
tell  upon  all  the  generations  of  this  people,  down  to  the 
end  of  another  century  and  half,  (A.  D.  1995,)  then 
come  to  what  you  well  know  is  your  duty.  That  is  all 
that  God  requires  of  you,  the  rest  is  His. 

And  this  brings  me  to  my 

4.  Final  reflection,  which  is,  that  all  our  hope  for  the 
preservation  of  this  church,  and  for  the  salvation  of  this 
people  in  coming  time,  i§  in  God  alone. 

His  hand  enabled  the  feeble  band  of  twenty  to  estab- 
lish it  at  first ',  his  hand  has  sustained  it  hitherto ;  his 
hand,  and  his  alone,  can  keep  it  to  the  end.  It  consists 
now,  and  as  long  as  it  has  a  being,  will  consist,  of  sinful 
and  erring  mortals.  If  left  to  themselves,  they  will  make 
shipwreck  of  the  faith,  they  will  tread  under  foot  the 
Son  of  God,  they  will  count  the  blood  of  the  covenant 
an  unholy  thing,  and  will  do  despite  unto  the  Spirit  of 
grace.  If  forsaken  of  God,  they  will  "  wax  worse  and 
worse,"  and  will  be  judicially  given  up,  and  their  name 
will  be  forever  blotted  out.  Such,  I  say,  will  be  the 
course  and  end  of  the  church,  if  it  be  not  God's  merci- 
ful purpose  to  keep  it  and  save  it.  We  come,  then  to 
give  up  an  interest  so  dear  to  us  into  the  hands  of  a 
sovereign  God,  rejoicing  in  Him,  and  humbly  believing 
that,  for  his  own  name's  sake,  he  will  manifest  his  faith- 
fulness unto  all  the  coming  generations  of  this  beloved 
church  and  people. 

He  can,  with  infinite  ease,  prepare  for  them  those 
future  pastors  and  teachers,  whom  they  will  need.  With 
him  is  the  residue  of  the  Spirit,  and  he  can,  from  time 


51 


to  time,  add  to  the  communion  of  the  church  glorious 
numbers  of  such  as  shall  be  saved.  His  word  is  truth, 
and  through  that  word  he  can  sanctify  and  fit  them  for 
his  heavenly  kingdom.  Here  we  leave  the  church,  and 
trust  its  keeping  to  its  Almighty  Saviour's  care. 

But  shall  I  close  without  adding  a  word  to  those  who 
are  not  members  of  the  church  ?  No ;  I  would  not, — 
for  surely  they  have  a  deep  interest  in  all  I  have  said 
this  day.  There  are  two  classes  of  this  description 
among  my  hearers.  Some  of  you,  my  friends,  are 
hoping  that  although  you  are  not  members  of  the  visi- 
ble church,  you  are  yet  real  Christians,  and  in  the  way 
of  being  saved.  It  may  be  so ;  but  if  it  is,  there  is  one 
serious  and  difficult  question  for  you  to  answer  at  the 
beginning  of  this  year.  It  is  this :  Why,  with  such  a 
hope,  however  feeble  and  trembling  it  may  be,  you  can 
go  on  in  disobedience  to  the  will  of  Him  who  requires 
you  to  confess  him  before  men,  and  in  remembrance  of 
his  dying  love,  to  sit  with  his  followers  at  his  table  ?  I 
do  not  put  this  question  to  reproach  you,  but  to  bring 
you  to  the  performance  of  a  neglected  duty.  Under 
the  covenant  protection  of  God,  there  is  not  only  safety 
for  your  souls,  but  comfort  and  strength  also.  Seek 
those  spiritual  blessings,  then,  which  you  need,  in  the 
covenant  favor  of  Him  who  is  willing  to  avouch  himself 
to  be  your  God,  if  you  will  avouch  yourselves  to  be  his 
people. 

But  I  would  speak,  also  to  those  of  you,  my  friends, 
who  have  not  this  Christian  hope.  You  have  this  day 
heard  me  say  much  concerning  the  favor  of  God  toward 
those  who  become  his  true  people ;  and  I  think  you  will 
admit  that  their  hopes  and  prospects  are  of  infinitely 
greater  value  than  all  that  the  world  can  bestow  upon 


52 


them.  You  are  now,  in  common  with  all  here,  who  are 
real  Christians,  beginning  that  period  which  I  have  often 
named.  You  do  not  expect  to  see  its  end.  Your  reason 
tells  you  that  with  the  first  of  the  generations  of  that 
time,  you  will  pass  away  from  the  scenes  of  this  proba- 
tionary state,  and  will  dwell  in  eternity.  And  where, 
let  me  ask  you,  will  you  be,  at  the  end  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  years  from  this  day  ?  Where  will  your  immor- 
tal spirits  then  dwell  ?  Will  it  be  in  the  world  of  glory, 
or  in  the  world  of  woe  ?  If  you  become  the  people  of 
God,  you  will  dwell  in  his  kingdom.  If  you  fail  of  that, 
you  will  "be  cast  into  outer  darkness."  You  will  allow 
me,  my  friends,  to  speak  thus  plainly  to  you,  for  I  am 
seeking  your  good.  I  beg  you  to  give  these  thoughts  a 
place  in  your  minds.  Let  them  sink  deep  within  you. 
Think  how  quickly  one  generation,  the  average  term  of 
your  life,  passes  away.  Fifty  years  ago,  Eev.  Mr.  Barker 
stood  almost  on  this  very  spot,  and  preached  a  century 
sermon,  on  an  occasion  similar  to  the  present.  Even  that 
appears  to  be  a  long  period.  But  those  fifty  years  are 
gone,  and  with  them  are  gone  the  preacher  and  almost 
the  whole  of  that  assembly  who  heard  him.  How  few 
are  in  this  house  to-day,  who  were  present  then !  An- 
other fifty  years,  and  yet  another  will  pass  equally  soon. 
One  generation  of  this  people  will  follow  another. 
These  older  burying  grounds  will  be  filled  with  the  dead, 
and  the  living  will  seek  new  places  where  to  lay  their 
own  bodies  when  they  shall  follow  in  their  turn.  Thus 
will  come  round  the  year  1995,  which  will  show  a  gene- 
ration here,  who  will  know  little  or  nothing  of  us,  and 
who  will  walk  unconsciously  over  our  graves.  But  where 
then  shall  tve  be?  Where  the  immortal  spirits  of  this 
>bly?     To  have  been  in  heaven,  during  what  we 


■r>rv< 


53 


here  call  a  hundredjand  fifty  years,  will  be  but  the  begin, 
ning  of  bliss.    To  have  been  in  hell,  that  same  duration 
will  be  but  the  beginning  of  wo ! 

But  I  must  cease  :  Let  me,  then,  only  add  that  now 
the  church  on  earth  is  open,  and  all  may  enter,  who  will 
seek  admission  through  the  door  which  the  Saviour  has 
appointed.  Open  also  is  the  entrance  to  the  church 
above :  will  you,  my  hearers,  seek  admission  there  ? 
You  have  your  free  choice.  You  can  take  your  lot 
either  with  the  people  of  God,  or  with  those  who  slight 
the  promised  rest.  Oh,  make  the  wise  choice.  Secure 
the  favor  of  your  final  Judge ;  and  then,  when  centuries 
and  ages  shall  have  rolled  away,  your  happiness  will  be 
secure,  and  you  will  look  forward  to  scenes  of  increas- 
ing bliss  and  glory  throughout  an  unending  eternity. 

Amen. 


CHRO^^OLOGICAL    NOTICES. 


1694,  0.  S.,  Dec.  26.  The  First  Church  of  Mlddleborough,  was  or- 
ganized, and  Rev.  Samuel  Fuller  ordained. 

1695,  Aug.  17.     Mr.  Fuller  died,  aged  70. 
1700,  May  29.     Second  Meeting  House  erected. 
1702,  May  2.     Rev.  Thomas  Palmer  ordained. 

1708,  June  30.     Mr.  Palmer  deposed. 

1709,  Nov.  2.     Rev.  Peter  Thacher  ordained. 
1725,  Oct.  12.     "West  Precinct  Church  organized. 

1734,  Oct.  13.  Nineteen  members  dismissed  to  form  a  church  in 
Halifax. 

1737,  Nov.  13.  Dr.  Thomas  Palmer,  formerly  Pastor,  restored  to  the 
fellowship  of  the  church. 

1742, The  great  Revival  ;  148  added  to  the  church. 

1744,  April  22.     Mr.  Thacher  died,  aged  55. 

1745,  Mar.  7.      Rev.  Sylvanus  Conant  ordained. 
1745,  Third  Meeting  House  erected. 

1748,  Feb.  4.    Church  in  North  Mlddleborough  organized. 

1777,  Dec  8.     Mr.  Conant  died,  aged  55. 

1781,  Dec.  5.    Rev.  Joseph  Barker  ordained. 

1807  &  1808, Revival ;  95  added  to  the  church. 

1815,  July  25.    Mr.  Barker  died,  aged  64. 

1816,  Feb.  14.     Rev.  Emerson  Paine  ordained. 
1822,  June  4.    Mr.  Paine  dismissed. 

1823, Revival;  72  added  to  the  church. 

1824,  Mar.  10.     Rev.  William  Eaton  installed. 

1828, The  present  Meeting  House  erected. 

1829  &  1831, Revival ;  36  added  to  the  church. 

1834,  Mar.  5.    Mr.  Eaton  dismissed. 

1835,  Oct.  28.     Rev.  Israel  W.  Putnam  installed. 

1840,  '41,  &  '42, Revival ;  68  added  to  the  church. 

1843, The  Chapel  at  Four  Corners  Village  erected. 

1847,  Mar.  12.  Thirty-three  members  dismissed  and  organized  as  the 
Central  Congregational  Church. 

1849,  Aug.  16.  The  Meeting  House  of  the  Central  Church  dedicated, 
Rev.  Isaiah  C.  Thacher  installed. 


A    TABLE, 

Showing  the  annual  admission  of  Members,  the  number  Baptized  when  admitted 
and  the  total  Baptisms,  in  the  First  Chukch  of  Middleboro',  Mass. 


PASTORS. 


Ber.  S.  Fuller. 
Kev.  T  Palmer. 
Records  lost  to 

Kev.  P.  Thacher. 


BeT.  S.  Conant. 


a  I 


1694 

1708 

1709 

1710 

1711 

1712 

1713 

1714 

1715 

1716 

1717 

1718 

1719 

1720 

1721 

1722 

1723 

1724 

1725 

1726 

1727 

1728 

1729 

1730 

1731 

1732 

1733 

1734 

17.35 

1736 

1737 

1 

1739 

1740 

1741 

1742 

1743 

1744 

1745 

1746 

1747 

1748 

1749 

1750 

1751 

1762 

1753 

1754 

1755 

1756 

175' 

1758 

1759 

1760 

1761 

1762 

1763 

1764 

1765 

1766 

1767 

1768 

1 

1770 

1771 

1772 


3  7 
0  0 


0,30 
014 
025 
111 
126 
010 
010 
Oil 
015 
010 


PASTORS. 


Eev.  S.  Conant. 


Vacancy. 


Bev.  J.  Barker. 


1773 
1774 
1775 
1776 
1777 

1778 
1779 

1780 

1781 

1782 

1783 

1' 

1785 

17 

1787 

1788 

1789 

1790 

1791 

1792 

1 

1794 

1795 

1796 

1797 

1798 

17 

1800 

1801 

1802 

1803 

1804 

1805 

1806 

180' 

1808' 

1819 

1810 

1811 

1812 

1813 


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u 

■i 

a 

a 

■3 

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o. 

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PQ 

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a   -a 

« 

o 

M 

C. 

H 

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6 

2 

17 

1 

0 

16 

0 

0 

1 

3 

0 

8 

1 

0 

10 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

3 

1 

0 

5 

4 

0 

2 

15 

4 

34 

5 

0 

18 

7 

1 

10 

5 

1 

4 

6 

1 

25 

7 

3 

16 

3 

1 

12 

7 

0 

35 

1 

0 

5 

3 

1 

10 

2 

1 

7 

3 

1 

5 

13 

6 

13 

4 

0 

3 

2 

0 

6 

1 

6 

0 

11 

1 

1 

11 

.' 

0 

0 

4 

2 

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2 

3 

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8 

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2913 

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1 

t 

6 

1 

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12 

17 

6 

l7 

PASTORS. 


Eev.  J.  Barker. 
Eev.  E.  Paine. 


Vacancy. 

Rev.  Wm.  Eaton, 


Bev.  I.  W.  Putnam 


H     -a    s=  _; 


1814 

1816 


1823   72  44 


1835 
1836 
1837 
1838 
1839 
1840 
1841 
1842 
1843 
1844 
1845 
1846 
1847 
1848 
1849 
1850 
1851 


2 

231517 
2615;i8 
1911.11 


SUMMARY. 


NAMES  OF  PASTORS. 


SB 


■^i 


•si 


Mr.  Fuller, |  I  20  |  3  |  7 

Mr.  Palmer,  no  records,      -    -     .    -     -  |  13 1  16  |  | 

Mr.  ThachM, |  35  |  430  |  87  |  985 

~air.  Conant. 1  33  |  76  |  6  |  t)55 

Vacancy,    -    - |  3  |  II  0  |  10 

Mr.  Barber, |  34  |  246  I  93  |  418 

Mr  Paine, I  7  |  15  |  6  |  33 

Vacancy, -    -    -  |  1  |  72  |  44  |  44 

Mr.  Eaton, -    -  |  10 1 .    63  |  37  |  66 

Mr.  Putnam, |  16  |  131  |  72 J  98 


1069  I    348  I  2316 


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